Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on January 21-22/2024
Elias Bejjani/Video: Commemorating the Annual Brutal Damour Massacre
Elias Bejjani/Video and Text: Commemorating the Annual Brutal Damour Massacre
Patriarch Al Rai: With the election of the President, terrorist threats aimed at silencing any opposing voice for future goals will cease, goals that prioritize sectarian interests at the expense of national partnership.
Bishop Auda called for not tying the fate of our country to any cause, no matter how just. He questioned whether anyone died for us when we were in crises, wars, and under the fires of both enemies and non-enemies.
The confrontations intensify in the south, and 4 martyrs on the Bazouriyeh road
Israel informs America: End of the month, either calm or war
Strike kills Hezbollah official in Lebanon, amid apparent Israeli shift to targeted killings
Israel bombs car killing 2 Hezbollah members as clashes continue
Kafra attack: Israeli airstrike targets vehicle in southern Lebanon
Hezbollah threat: Israel considers new strategy amidst security concerns
At least two killed in Israeli drone attack in southern Lebanon
Israeli drone strike claims lives of two Hezbollah members in Southern Lebanon
Lebanese expatriates: Pillars of economic stability
Parliament website subjected to hacking attempt
Berri reviews general situation with Jumblatt
Sami Gemayel on Hezbollah's tactics: Weakness of arguments and logic of cancellation
The Shiite Community and Greater LebanonظMustafa Fahs/Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper/January 21/2024

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on January 21-22/2024
Palestinian death toll soars past 25,000 in Gaza with no end in sight to Israel-Hamas war
Netanyahu again rejects Palestinian sovereignty amid fresh US push for two-state solution
Iran ups the ante against US, proxies strike Iraq military base with ballistic missiles
Officials report at least 25 dead in shelling of a market in Russian-occupied Ukraine
Israel's Netanyahu rejects Hamas conditions for hostage deal which include 'outright surrender'
Saudi Foreign Minister: No normalization with Israel without resolving the Palestinian issue
Yemen’s presidential council appeals to world to label Houthis terrorists
Canadian MPs who visited West Bank urge action against "constant humiliation" of Palestinians
The father of an IDF soldier killed on October 7 claimed his son's decapitated head was found in an ice cream store's freezer, report says
Iranian soldier kills 5 comrades in southeastern city where IS attack killed dozens, state TV says
Iran blames Israel, vows revenge after Guards die in Syria strike
Russia is likely using Ukraine's freezing winter to ramp up its front-line assaults — but its losses are soaring, British intelligence says
Russia deploys Admiral Essen in Black Sea rotation
Blinken departs for West Africa as Russia and China look to leverage their influence
White House defends retaliation against Houthis: 'Deterrence is not a light switch'
Tens of thousands of protesters across France call on Macron not to sign immigration law
Ron DeSantis ends his struggling presidential bid before New Hampshire and endorses Donald Trump

Titles For The Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on January 21-22/2024
Dispatch: Inside the only place in Israel where Jews and Arabs choose to live together/Sophia Yan/The Telegraph/January 21, 2024
We Have to Kill Those Who Preach Christianity': The Persecution of Christians, December 2023 (Christmas Edition)/Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/January 21, 2024
The Middle East is growing more and more unstable/Yasar Yakis/Arab News/January 21, 2024
Britain responds to Gaza’s suffering by criminalizing support for Palestinians/Baria Alamuddin/Arab News/January 22, 2024
Temporary Survival/Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper/January 21/2024

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on January 21-22/2024
Elias Bejjani/Video: Commemorating the Annual Brutal Damour Massacre
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKGYNVyj_Os&t=31s
Elias Bejjani/January 21, 2024

Elias Bejjani/Video and Text: Commemorating the Annual Brutal Damour Massacre
Elias Bejjani/January 21, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/126326/elias-bejjani-video-and-text-commemorating-the-annual-brutal-damour-massacre/
The memory of the Damour Massacre, perpetrated by the Syrian Assad regime, Palestinian terrorism, leftist and Arab nationalist groups, and jihadists on January 20, 1976, remains etched in the Lebanese, Christian, moral, national, and faith-based consciousness. It serves as a painful reminder of a brutal chapter in Lebanon's history and the resilient struggle of its free Christian community.
This anniversary reflects a dark period where internal traitors and mercenaries aligned with Palestinian, Arab, leftist, and jihadist terrorism executed brutal and barbaric massacres against the peaceful inhabitants of the Damour Town, and the Christian residents along the Shouf region coast. This period culminated in the siege of President Camille Chamoun in the town of Saadiyat.
The Damour Massacre anniversary symbolizes a bloody chapter in the ongoing evil attempts to uproot Christians from Lebanon, dismantle Lebanon's entity, disrupt coexistence, undermine its role, erode identity, and attack its civilization. Enemies of Lebanon, civilization, and humanity destroyed homes and churches in Damour and its neighboring coastal towns, burning fields and displacing the Christian population.
The innocent victims of the Damour Massacre, estimated at 684 individuals, including children, women, elders, and fighters, will not be forgotten.
planners and executors of this atrocity, along with their demonic objectives to uproot and displace Christians from Lebanon, remain ingrained in our collective memory.
These sinister schemes persist today, targeting not only Christians, but various Lebanese sovereign and independent groups through local, regional, and international entities, each with its distinct identity, yet united under hostile, sectarian, and terrorist concepts.
In the present time, the Iranian Mullahs' regime, through its terrorist proxy Hezbollah, the criminal Assad regime, and numerous local mercenaries from leftists, jihadists, and resistance traders, continue the chapters of the Damour Massacre.
The occupation faced by Lebanon goes beyond Damour to encompass the entire country and its social community fabrics. The Mullahs' regime seeks, through force and terrorism, not only to uproot Christians from Lebanon, but also to destroy its entity, overthrow its coexistence and civilized system, aiming to replace it with an Islamic Republic annexed to Tehran's rulers. This serves as a base to overthrow all Arab regimes and establish the Persian Empire.
On this painful anniversary, all Lebanese sovereign, independent, and peaceful social and denominational groups, led by the Christians, will not forget the heroism of our noble, honorable, and brave people who stood against invaders and mercenaries, sacrificing themselves for their sacred homeland.
No, we will not forget our Lebanese righteous Damour martyrs, and we will not forget their sacrifices. On this somber day, we raise prayers, humbly asking for their souls to rest in peace in God's eternal heavenly mansions.

Patriarch Al Rai: With the election of the President, terrorist threats aimed at silencing any opposing voice for future goals will cease, goals that prioritize sectarian interests at the expense of national partnership.
LCCC/NNA/January 21, 2024
Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai presided over Sunday's Mass at the exterior altar of the patriarchal seat in Bkerke, "Capella Resurrection," assisted by a group of bishops and priests. The ceremony was attended by Army Commander General Joseph Aoun with his family, Dr. Joseph El-Helou, Director of Medical Care at the Ministry of Health, Consul of the Republic of Mauritania Eli Nasr, the family of the Mariamite Apostolic Movement, and a gathering of dignitaries and believers. After the Holy Gospel, the Patriarch delivered a sermon titled "Who is the Faithful and Wise Manager?" (Luke 12:43). Lebanon today urgently needs responsible leaders with hearts full of love, dedication, selflessness, humility, and a spirit of service devoid of any selfish or sectarian gains. The Presidential Palace in Baabda needs such a responsible president. We thank God that within the Maronite community, there are personalities known for embodying these qualities of responsible leaderiament, carry out this duty entrusted to you by the people and the constitution, and elect a head of state to lift the country from its state of conflict and the disintegration s. We appeal to the Speaker of Parliament to call on the members of parliament from tomorrow to hold consecutive sessions and elect such a president according to democratic principles, without waiting for any external signal regarding a name or any other matter from the debris of the world. Electing the president is the primary duty laid upon their national conscience and their representation under the constitution. Continuing to refrain from this duty is a clear betrayal of the trust that the people placed in them when they were elected. We hope they do not fall victim to the saying, "Whoever associates with you, sells you." We say enough to the closure of the Baabda Presidential Palace! Enough to the exclusion of the Maronite community, which is the fundamental element in Lebanon's composition! Yes, Members of Parlof its institutions, including your parliamentary council, which has lost its legislative authority, and the government lacking procedural powers. Stop the nonsense of "legislation of necessity" and "appointments of necessity," and go to the one and only necessity, which is the election of a president, so that all your institutions and practices regain their legitimacy. Lebanon is a country that is a hundred and ninety-nine years old, during which it gained dignity and a honorable name among the nations of the world. Be worthy of this dignity and restore it to Greater Lebanon with its values and to its great people

Bishop Auda called for not tying the fate of our country to any cause, no matter how just. He questioned whether anyone died for us when we were in crises, wars, and under the fires of both enemies and non-enemies.
LCCC/NNA/January 21, 2024
Metropolitan Beirut and its suburbs for the Eastern Orthodox Church, Bishop Elias Auda, presided over the Mass at the Cathedral of St. George, in the presence of a crowd of believers.
After the Gospel, he delivered a sermon in which he said, "How much do we, the Lebanese, need the mercy of God to heal from the love of self and the pursuit of glory, authority, chasing desires, and gains. We pray throughout the great forty-day fast: 'O Lord and Master of my life, deliver me from the spirit of laziness, idle curiosity, love of power, and idle talk...' This prayer should be repeated by every Lebanese at the dawn of each day, so that the Lord allows us to abandon our selfishness, overcome our divisions, and unify our vision for our country. Let us see it as our only homeland, our only refuge, our only embrace, for which we strive, preserve, protect, and defend alone. This stance requires us to respect other countries and support just causes, foremost among them the Palestinian cause. However, we should not allow anyone to interfere in our internal affairs, and not link the destiny of our country, especially the election of the president, to any cause, no matter how just, or to any state, no matter how powerful, wealthy, or influential. Lebanon needs its people, all its people, their minds, arms, intelligence, knowledge, and work, to rebuild it on solid foundations that preserve the rights, security, freedom, stability, and future of all its sons from the north to the south, and from the east to the sea."He continued, "Every Lebanese must preserve their energy for their country, not sacrifice themselves or underestimate their lives for any cause, no matter how just, other than the cause of their homeland. Did anyone die for us when we were in crises and wars, under the fires of enemies and non-enemies? Why did the Lebanese, especially those in the south, bear the losses in lives and properties, pay prices they could afford, in addition to displacement and homelessness?"
He added, "If the Lebanese remain divided about their vision for Lebanon, its sovereignty, and role, preoccupied with their interests and serving the aspirations of others in their country, they will lose Lebanon, themselves, and the future of their children. Instead, they should gather their energies to save their drowning country, facing problems, political contradictions, economic difficulties, various collapses, and different natural and political slip-ups."
He asked, "Is it too much for our children to dream of a promising future? To go to schools, play in peace, sleep and dream without fear or worry? How can this happen when our country has no president, no effective government, and a parliamentary council incapable of electing a president? A year has passed with the continuous presence in the parliament of a deputy demanding nothing but the implementation of the constitution and the election of a president, but his fellow deputies and those in power have no intention to contemplate his position, adhere to the constitution and its application without distortion, and elect a president. In this way, Lebanon will be saved, and it will be able to defend its causes, and support every weak, oppressed, and downtrodden person."He concluded, "Our call today is to embody the Samaritan 'stranger,' and always return glorifying God 'with a loud voice,' with our words, actions, thoughts, and our entire being renewed by true repentance and the mercy of God."

The confrontations intensify in the south, and 4 martyrs on the Bazouriyeh road
LCCC/Al Mudon/January 21, 2024
Clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli occupation army have escalated in the south since Saturday morning. Alongside the Israeli shelling that targeted several southern towns and homes, Hezbollah carried out multiple operations targeting Israeli soldiers' positions and gatherings. In response, an Israeli drone targeted a car on the northern Bazouriyeh road, leading to the martyrdom of four individuals, including two Lebanese from Hezbollah: Mohammed Ali Diab from Tyre and Ali Mohammed Haddarj from Bazouriyeh, a leader in the Palestinian branch of the Quds Force who played a role in cooperation between Hamas and the Iranian axis in the fields of electronic warfare and air defense. Two Palestinian youths were also martyred. Israeli media reported that Israel has raised alert levels on the northern front.
Repeated Targeting
The Israeli army continued its artillery shelling of areas and towns in southern Lebanon, with a drone carrying out a strike on a house in Marwahin. This house has been targeted several times since the start of Israeli attacks. Artillery shelling targeted the outskirts of the towns of Yarin, Shehine, Jibbin Tireh, and the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab and Dahiyra. Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes, the first on the town of Adaisseh and the second on the eastern neighborhood of Adaisseh adjacent to the Kfar Kila road. In response, Hezbollah announced, "We targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers in the vicinity of Honin Castle with rocket weapons and achieved a direct hit." It also announced targeting "a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers in the vicinity of the Dahyra site with appropriate weapons, causing confirmed injuries." Additionally, it announced targeting "Israeli enemy soldiers in the vicinity of Zraitiyah barracks and achieved a direct hit."
Intensive Night Aerial Activity
The Israeli army fired heavy machine-gun fire around the towns of Rameh and Aita al-Shaab from its positions adjacent to Aita al-Shaab. Heavy artillery shells were also fired on the outskirts of the towns of Rameh, Naqoura, Jabal al-Labouna, Alam, and Dahiyra. During the past night and into the morning, there was intensive reconnaissance aircraft activity over the Litani River and the villages of the western and central sectors, reaching the outskirts of the Tyre region and the coastal area. Throughout the night, illuminating bombs were dropped over the villages of the Tyre district and the coastal area, and over the Blue Line adjacent to the international border with Palestine.

Israel informs America: End of the month, either calm or war
LCCC/Al Mudon/January 21, 2024
Senior Israeli officers in the Northern Command are calling for a significant and wide-scale escalation against Lebanon, according to an Israeli report today, Sunday, parallel to an American report indicating that Israel has informed the U.S. administration that if the situation does not calm down with Hezbollah by the end of this month, Israel will escalate its attack against Lebanon. The "Yedioth Ahronoth" newspaper quoted senior Israeli officers as saying that a "new equation must be established against Hezbollah." According to the equation, the Israeli army declares that it "will cease fire for 48 hours, but after the first shell falls on our lands, especially if fired towards a civilian target, it will lead to severe shelling resulting in the destruction of southern Lebanon, including attacking suspicious houses in Shiite villages near the border. Quiet will be met with quiet, but firing will be met with disproportionate firing from Israel." The newspaper noted that the Israeli army's policy towards Hezbollah, at the beginning of the war on Gaza, was "firing is met with firing," and this policy has changed in recent weeks, as the Israeli army has launched a series of daily attacks "against military targets for Hezbollah, without waiting for firing from its side." Nevertheless, the officers considered that the General Staff and the political level in Israel "restrict the responses of the Northern Command, so as not to cause destruction in Lebanon similar to Gaza." They added that Israel also does not exploit the fact that Hezbollah has a lot to lose from the escalation at the moment. According to them, "we must act gradually and in coordination with the Americans, giving a real chance to create calm at the borders through our initiative to a ceasefire, and at the same time establish a legal basis for an attack that ultimately leads to restoring security to the northern towns." One of these Israeli officers claimed, "Why wait in defense against the possibility of a Rizwan force infiltration? And why mobilize forces? Hezbollah is the one who initiated opening this front and should be on alert so that we do not enter its forces in Aita al-Shaab and Maroun al-Ras. The equation must change." In parallel, the "Washington Post" reported a senior U.S. official as saying that Israel has informed Washington that if a solution to the situation at the Lebanese border is not reached by the end of this month, it will escalate its attacks against Hezbollah. It also quoted two U.S. officials as saying that Hezbollah is not interested in a comprehensive war with Israel, but opposes reaching a ceasefire agreement as long as the war on Gaza continues.

Strike kills Hezbollah official in Lebanon, amid apparent Israeli shift to targeted killings
SIDON, Lebanon (AP)/January 21, 2024
An Israeli airstrike hit two vehicles near a Lebanese army checkpoint in south Lebanon on Sunday, killing a Hezbollah member and wounding several other people, including civilians, Lebanese state media and health officials reported. The strike appeared to be part of a shift in Israeli strategy toward targeted killings in Lebanon after more than three months of near-daily clashes with Hezbollah militants on the border against the backdrop of the war in Gaza. Hezbollah announced that one of its members, identified as Fadel Shaar, had been killed in the strike in the town of Kafra. Local civil defense and hospital officials said seven people were wounded, including two women, one of whom was in critical condition. Video from the scene showed a passenger sedan in flames next to a small truck stopped in the middle of the road. The Israeli military did not comment on the strike.
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, Hezbollah forces have engaged in near-daily clashes with Israeli troops along the border. While the clashes had previously been limited mainly to a narrow strip within a few kilometers (miles) from the border, Israel in recent weeks appears to have moved to a strategy of targeted killings of figures from Hezbollah and allied groups, sometimes hitting in areas relatively far from the border, as was the case in Sunday’s strike. On Saturday, another strike near the Lebanese port city of Tyre killed two people in a car — one of them a Hezbollah commander — and two people in a nearby orchard. The commander, Ali Hudruj, was buried Sunday in south Lebanon. The other occupant of the car, tech sector businessman Mohammad Baqir Diab, was identified as a civilian and was buried in Beirut on Sunday. On Jan. 2, a presumed Israeli airstrike killed a top Hamas official, Saleh Arouri, in a suburb of Beirut, the first such strike in Lebanon’s capital since Israel and Hezbollah fought a brutal one-month war in 2006. Speaking at Hudruj’s funeral Sunday, Hezbollah Member of Parliament Hussein Jeshi said Israel had “resorted to the method of assassinating some members of the resistance" to compensate for being unable to reach a military victory against Hamas after more than 100 days of war in Gaza. The Lebanese militant group said in a statement later Sunday that it had launched an attack against the town of Avivim in northern Israel in retaliation for a civilian woman killed in the Israeli strike in Kafra and for other “attacks that targeted Lebanese villages and civilians.”It later modified the statement to remove the reference to the civilian death after hospital officials and family members said the woman was still alive. Israel did not comment on the strike in Kafra but announced it had struck Hezbollah targets in several locations in Lebanon on Sunday. It later said that an anti-tank missile had hit a house in Avivim and no injuries were reported. With dangers of a regional conflict flaring on multiple fronts, officials from the United States and Europe have engaged in a flurry of shuttle diplomacy in recent weeks between Israel and Lebanon, attempting to head off an escalation of the conflict into a full-on war on the Lebanese front. *Sewell reported from Beirut. Associated Press journalists Ahmad Mantash in Sidon, Ali Sharaffedine in Beirut and Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Israel bombs car killing 2 Hezbollah members as clashes continue
Naharnet/January 21, 2024 
Two Hezbollah members were killed Saturday in an Israeli drone strike on their car in the southern town of al-Bazouriyeh near Tyre, some 20 kilometers from the nearest point of the border with Israel. An Israeli drone also targeted a house in Marwahin, which has been repeatedly bombed since the eruption of the fighting, as Israeli warplanes carried out two strikes on Adaisseh. Israeli artillery shelling meanwhile targeted the outskirts of Alma al-Shaab and al-Dhayra as well as the Marjeyoun plain and the al-Hamames hill. Hezbollah for its part announced fresh attacks on Israeli forces at the Hounine, al-Dhayra and Zar'it Israeli posts. The violence has killed around 197 people in Lebanon, including at least 144 Hezbollah fighters. On the Israeli side, 15 people have been killed, of whom nine were soldiers and six civilians, according to the Israeli army.

Kafra attack: Israeli airstrike targets vehicle in southern Lebanon
LBCI/January 21, 2024
Israel, amidst its daily airstrikes on southern regions, has expanded the scope of its targets, reaching further into Lebanese territories. Following the tragic death of engineer Ali Hadraj, known as Abbas, a new attack on Kafra in Bint Jbeil district was reported. The Israeli military targeted a Kia vehicle near an army checkpoint in Kafra. The attack ignited a fire, resulting in the death of Fadel Salman Chaar from Nabatieh al-Fawqa, who was accompanying an individual affiliated with Hezbollah. The airstrike also hit a Rapid vehicle passing at the moment of the attack, along with another car carrying two women. Both were transported to the hospital for treatment along with other wounded individuals. According to sources, the intended target in Kafra was a prominent Hezbollah leader, whose identity remains undisclosed. The Israeli surveillance observed the targeted vehicle, but the leader was not inside at the time of the strike. Israeli media hastily declared the assassination of a senior Hezbollah official following the incident, a claim that has not been substantiated.

Hezbollah threat: Israel considers new strategy amidst security concerns
LBCI/January 21, 2024
The Israeli army is exploring a new strategy to confront Hezbollah.
Security officials reveal that the United States has granted Israel a limited timeframe, not extending beyond early next month, to progress toward a diplomatic settlement with Lebanon. Failure to do so will result in an intensification of Israeli attacks, officials warn. The move comes as calls for an immediate military strike against Hezbollah grow louder, following revelations from the Israeli army radio that US envoy Amos Hochstein informed Israelis that there is no progress in negotiations with Hezbollah and no hope for a swift resolution. Against this backdrop, a group of officers and officials is devising various plans to address the situation with Lebanon. One prominent proposal suggests that the Israeli army declares a 48-hour ceasefire, coordinated gradually with the Americans, offering a genuine opportunity to enforce calm along the borders. The plan's objective is to legitimize any subsequent military attack in the event of Hezbollah violating or failing to adhere to the ceasefire. Ultimately, this would lead to restoring security to the northern towns. In detail, if a missile were to fall on Israel during the ceasefire, it would trigger severe shelling that would devastate southern Lebanon, creating room for a political settlement of the northern border issue. However, this scenario poses a significant real threat. Israel is incapable of repatriating over 80,000 of its citizens to their homes, opening the northern front with Lebanon without concluding the Gaza war, deemed by some as a suicidal move that could ignite the entire region.
Additionally, concerns mount over Hezbollah's use of its drone arsenal, given Israel's lack of highly effective defensive systems, as reported by Israeli sources. Of particular concern is the city of Haifa, which can be attacked at any moment. The mayor of Haifa recently warned of this danger, urging residents to stay vigilant. With oil refineries and chemical factories in Haifa Bay, the city awaits the arrival of the Interior Minister this week to commence infrastructure improvements, raising questions about whether the government comprehends how to address such a precarious situation.

At least two killed in Israeli drone attack in southern Lebanon
Reuters/January 21, 2024
Security sources said that at least two people were killed and several others were injured in an Israeli drone strike on a car in southern Lebanon on Sunday. Residents and security sources reported that ambulances rushed to the site near a Lebanese army checkpoint, and the individuals targeted in the attack were not immediately clear."

Israeli drone strike claims lives of two Hezbollah members in Southern Lebanon
LBCI/January 21, 2024
In a recent development reported by security sources, two members of the Lebanese Hezbollah died in a targeted drone strike conducted by an Israeli aircraft, according to Reuters. The incident occurred as the members were traveling in a car in southern Lebanon. According to the security sources, the Israeli drone executed a direct strike on the vehicle, resulting in the fatal outcome for the Hezbollah members.

Lebanese expatriates: Pillars of economic stability
LBCI/January 21, 2024
Lebanon has long relied on the contributions of its expatriate community to sustain its economy, especially during the recent economic crisis. As the nation grapples with financial difficulties, the vital role played by Lebanese nationals working abroad becomes increasingly evident. In contrast, remittances from expatriates have remained constant, providing a lifeline for many Lebanese families for more than 15 years. In 2023 alone, expatriate remittances reached $6.4 billion, constituting nearly a third of the country's economy. Tourism, amounting to $5.3 billion, ranks as the second-largest source of foreign currency, with a significant portion attributed to expatriates returning to their homeland. The remaining foreign currency inflows come from industrial and agricultural exports ($3 billion), grants, aid, and miscellaneous transfers ($1 billion). On the other hand, foreign investments have decreased to near insignificance. Given their substantial contribution, what is the significance of expatriate remittances? Firstly, expatriate remittances serve as a crucial support system for Lebanese families, covering essential expenses such as food, healthcare, housing, electricity, and education. They act as a safety net without a robust social welfare system.
Secondly, this local consumption aids Lebanese businesses in maintaining their operations. For instance, a $100 remittance spent at a local store not only supports the shop owner but also boosts revenues, enabling them to pay their employees.
Thirdly, the influx of foreign currency contributes to stabilizing the exchange rate of the Lebanese lira against the dollar in the local market. Therefore, the importance of expatriate remittances cannot be overstated. They not only sustain families but also bolster local businesses and contribute significantly to the stability of the national economy. The Lebanese diaspora serves as a lifeline, and acknowledging their impact is paramount for the country's economic resilience.

Parliament website subjected to hacking attempt
LBCI/January 21, 2024
The Media Affairs Department of the Parliament issued a statement on Sunday confirming that the official website of the Parliament has been subject to a hacking attempt on Sunday. In response to the security breach, the technical team overseeing the website's management and protection has promptly taken action by freezing the site. The team is actively addressing the situation and implementing necessary measures to secure the website against further unauthorized access.

Berri reviews general situation with Jumblatt
NNA/January 21, 2024 
Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, received this evening at Ain al-Tineh Palace former Progressive Socialist Party Chief Walid Jumblatt, in the presence of former Minister Ghazi al-Aridi. The general situation in the country and the latest political and field developments topped their discussions, especially in light of Israel’s continued aggression against the Gaza Strip and South Lebanon.

Sami Gemayel on Hezbollah's tactics: Weakness of arguments and logic of cancellation
LBC ENGLISH NEWS/NNA/January 21, 2024 
The leader of the Kataeb Party, MP Samy Gemayel, confirmed to the Kuwaiti newspaper "Al-Seyassah" that the threats he receives are public and traceable, and their source can be identified. He stated that these threats are clear in their source, not hidden, noting that they are accustomed to such matters and "deal with a cancellation team that uses violence as a means in politics to eliminate others." He emphasized that "Hezbollah resorts to threatening sovereign figures because its argument is weak, and when a person's argument is weak, they resort to the logic of cancellation, which is the weapon of the weak.
Gemayel pointed out that the possibility of the return of assassinations exists, citing the assassination of Lokman Slim over two years ago, indicating that assassinations have not stopped. He stated that Hezbollah is obstructing the presidential process because it couldn't impose its candidate, and it will continue to obstruct as long as there is opposition from the parliament to its candidate, similar to what happened with Michel Aoun. Gemayel argued that the presidential process remains obstructed until the Lebanese are subjected to Hezbollah's will, hoping that no one will succumb to this will. Moreover, he mentioned that Lebanon has seen the price it paid for such a submission, hoping it will not happen again. He added that the opposition is cohesive on this matter, with no intention of backing down, and no one succumbs to the imposition logic practiced by Hezbollah. In response to a question, Gemayel stated, "We reject the election of Sleiman Frangieh because he does not represent our political line and is an ally of Hezbollah. His arrival would mean that the latter would impose control over the presidency, turning the state and presidency into a front to defend its weapons and performance."
He continued: "Therefore, we do not want the Lebanese state to be a shield for Hezbollah to use in fortifying itself at the expense of the state, law, and constitution."
In addition, he considered the possibility of Hezbollah dragging Lebanon into an open war with Israel as possible, but at present, this intention does not exist within the party due to other considerations.
Hezbollah does not want to jeopardize its military, social, and political system, and it does not want to sacrifice the position of strength it has built-in Lebanon for the sake of Gaza. He noted that there is an attempt by Iran to isolate Lebanon from its Arab surroundings, allowing Tehran to control it more through Hezbollah, and they are trying to resist this plan. Gemayel emphasized that Lebanon has historical relationships with all Arab countries, and some friendships have lasted for decades, and Lebanon should not abandon them. The Arabs, too, should not abandon Lebanon because, in the past, it has been the refuge and meeting place for all Arab peoples. Gemayel said: " Lebanon is where they express their opinions and engage in dialogue." Therefore, he believes no one should sacrifice this tormented homeland that needs its friends and support. He mentioned, "We had previously warned against a deal at the expense of Lebanon, expressing concern that during the dialogue between Hezbollah and Israel, an agreement might be reached at the expense of Lebanese sovereignty." "Hezbollah could take Lebanon as a prize for its withdrawal from the south, securing Israel's safety. This is what we fear and caution the entire world about because, if it happens, Lebanon, which has always been a beacon for the Arab world, would be sacrificed," he continued.

The Shiite Community and Greater Lebanon
Mustafa Fahs/Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper/January 21/2024
More than a hundred years ago, Greater Lebanon had its premature birth. It was a difficult birth, and was completed by the 1943 formula, which has nurtured its natural and atypical growth up to this moment, to the extent that whoever took charge of it, i.e. its political class, grew old, but the formula did not.
The Lebanese formula, with all its features and requirements, was and remains the safe structure for the Lebanese components to live in their great homeland, after they were all convinced that it was their final homeland. The patriarch of Bkirki succeeded in convincing these groups to live together in a wide geographic zone, based on its diversity and not its area. This was demonstrated by his refusal to be a patriarch of small Lebanon, a country that is isolated from its immediate neighborhood, or far from its natural depth. The 1920 borders are geographical features that distinguish it, but do not separate it from its large surroundings. After more than a century, the small Lebanon that was rejected by Patriarch Howayek in 1919 is now longed for by some, who see that secession and the temptations of federalism protect their particularities. This old boy also suffers from those who are always driven by a longing for regional, national, or leftist integration, leading to projects of political Islam in both parts. But all those who wanted it to be small or who saw it as smaller than their ambitions went to the far right and the far left, and then returned more convinced that it was a privilege that characterized them with its distinction.
In a moment of revelation, the authority in the Levant, Al-Sayyed Mohsen Al-Amin, recognized the peculiarity of Greater Lebanon as the meeting point of two mountains (Mount Lebanon and Jabal Amel). The elites of his sect saw it as their historic opportunity to obtain justice after a lenghty oppression at the hands of the successive Umayyad, Abbasid, Mamluk, and Ottoman sultans, under whom the Shiites of this mountain were marginalized.
In 1920, this sect was allowed to officially participate in the affairs of the state and experience governance. Gradually, its role expanded and its power increased, in parallel with the growth of other components, who preceded it in ruling this country. But none of them was able to control its formula.
Before 1948, the villages and cities of Jabal Amel were the link between the cities of Greater Lebanon and the historical towns of Palestine, and a commercial hub connecting them together. However, since the establishment of the Hebrew entity, these cities have turned into border villages. Merchants and travelers from Sidon and Bint Jbeil turned towards Beirut. The Nakba of Palestine constituted a greater motivation for their national integration decision. The early Israeli attacks and massacres also drove the people of southern Lebanon to take the position of defender of their country’s frontiers. But the border line turned into an open confrontation, after Lebanon was chosen over the other countries of the encirclement to be the starting point for armed struggle. Thus, the South was exposed to wars, invasions, and loss of lives and wealth.
Therefore, the location and role of the Shiite component is crucial in the greater geography of Lebanon, and its location along the borders has turned it into a major player. The Shiite do not need to prove their affiliation through a blood test, as they are the ones who have the concept of Lebanon imbedded in their thoughts, in text and in deed.
Therefore, two points must be reminded: The first is the National Accord Document that was issued by the Supreme Shiite Islamic Council in 1977, which was described as the Shiite version of 77, entitled, “Lebanon is a final homeland for all its people.”
The second is the document of Islamic constants issued by the Aramoun Islamic Summit (Sunnis, Shiites and Druze) in 1983. The document stated that Lebanon is a final homeland for all of its people, Arab in identity and affiliation. This same equation was specified in the National Accord Document, known as the Taif Agreement, which remains the best deal that was ever reached between the Lebanese people, away from size and numbers.
The formula was and remains a balancing factor in the relations of the Lebanese groups, and a guarantor of the unity of the entity, against fragmentation, expansion, or the reinforcement of one party over another. We have gone through many experiences during which some people tried to dominate or monopolize the formula. Excess power tempted these parties to prevail until they discovered that victory in Lebanon was impossible. Perhaps prudence will advise them to learn the lesson from their predecessors and realize that the formula is stronger than major or minor projects or axes, so they avoid falling into the forbidden, and use their minds, not their muscles. From independence to the Oct. 17 uprising, passing through the formula and the Taif, all of these stations confirm the necessity of the Shiite community’s integration within the homeland - instead of siding with any special project, as their imam, Sheikh Shamseddine, recommended them to do. Therefore, we are doomed to a settlement, a historical settlement between all the Lebanese, not an interest-based bargain between the rulers.

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on January 20-21/2024
Palestinian death toll soars past 25,000 in Gaza with no end in sight to Israel-Hamas war
Associated Press/January 21, 2024
The Palestinian death toll in Gaza from over three months of war between Israel and the territory's Hamas rulers has soared past 25,000, the Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday. At least 178 bodies were brought to Gaza's hospitals in 124 hours along with nearly 300 wounded people, according to Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra. Women and children are the main victims in the Israel-Hamas war, according to the United Nations. The war began with Hamas' surprise attack into Israel on Oct. 7, in which Palestinian militants allegedly killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostage, including men, women and children. Israel responded with a three-week air campaign and then a ground invasion into northern Gaza that flattened entire neighborhoods. Ground operations are now focused on the southern city of Khan Younis and built-up refugee camps in central Gaza dating back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. Some 85% of Gaza's population have fled their homes, with hundreds of thousands packing into U.N.-run shelters and tent camps in the southern part of the tiny coastal enclave. U.N. officials say a quarter of the population of 2.3 million is starving as only a trickle of humanitarian aid enters because of the fighting and Israeli restrictions. Gaza's Health Ministry says a total of 25,105 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since Oct. 7, and another 62,681 have been wounded. Al-Qidra said many casualties remain buried under the rubble from Israeli strikes or in areas where medics cannot reach them. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its death toll but says around two-thirds of those killed were women and minors. The Israeli military says it has killed around 9,000 militants, without providing evidence, and blames the high civilian death toll on Hamas because it fights in dense, residential neighborhoods. The military says 195 of its soldiers have been killed since the start of the Gaza offensive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep up the offensive until Hamas is dismantled and all the hostages are returned. Nearly half of the captives were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for the release of scores of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israel says some 130 remain in captivity, but only around 100 are believed to still be alive.

Netanyahu again rejects Palestinian sovereignty amid fresh US push for two-state solution
Abeer Salman, Mitchell McCluskey, Ibrahim Dahman, Sophie Tanno, Kevin Liptak and MJ Lee, CNN/January 21, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday rejected calls for Palestinian sovereignty following talks with US President Joe Biden on post-war Gaza. Netanyahu said Israel’s need for security control over all territory west of Jordan is incompatible with the existence of a Palestinian state. “I will not compromise on full Israeli security control over all the territory west of Jordan - and this is contrary to a Palestinian state,” Netanyahu said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He did not provide any other details in his one-line post in Hebrew. The territory west of Jordan encompasses Israel, and both the occupied West Bank and Hamas-run Gaza, where Israel is battling the militant group following the October 7 attacks. The post comes amid a rift with the US, Israel’s most important ally, on what Gaza will look like once the conflict ends, and exposes the complex position Netanyahu is in. The Israeli prime minister is facing competing pressure from the international community to allow the creation of a viable Palestinian state and domestically to guarantee Israel’s security, most notably from far-right members of his coalition. Adding to the pressure, he is also facing calls for early elections, with thousands taking to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday. Critics have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war to stay in power. War cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot says he hopes that is not the case, but also says elections should happen within months.
His one-line statement on Saturday runs counter to what he told President Biden a day earlier, CNN reporting suggests. Netanyahu told Biden in a private phone call on Friday that he was not foreclosing the possibility of a Palestinian state in any form, a personal familiar with the conversation told CNN.
Biden administration officials have recently been engaged in discussions about a future demilitarized Palestinian state, an idea the US president finds “intriguing,” the source said. Following the phone call, their first in weeks, Biden told reporters he believed Netanyahu could ultimately be convinced of some kind of two-state solution. “There are a number of types of two-state solutions,” he said. “There’s a number of countries that are members of the UN that are still – don’t have their own military; a number of states that have limitations, and so I think there’s ways in which this can work,” Biden added.
But the day after Biden spoke, the Israeli prime minister’s office said in a statement: “In his conversation with President Biden, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated his policy that after Hamas is destroyed Israel must retain security control over Gaza to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel, a requirement that contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty.”
Biden and Netanyahu remain publicly at odds over the question of what will happen to Gaza once the Israel-Hamas war concludes, despite intense American efforts over the past several months to engage officials in Israel and the wider region on a plan they hope can finally resolve the decades-long conflict.
Biden and his top officials — including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Israel and the region last week — have said the creation of a Palestinian state with guarantees for Israel’s security is the only way to finally bring peace and stability to the Middle East. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called opposition to a two-state solution “unacceptable.”“The refusal to accept the two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, and the denial of the right to statehood for the Palestinian people, are unacceptable,” he said in a post on X. It remains an open question how post-war Gaza will be governed but Netanyahu has had long-standing objections to a two-state solution. And while Netanyahu’s stance is contentious internationally, he faces pressure from more right-wing members of his cabinet who have caused outrage with their suggestions on what should happen to people living in Gaza.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has championed the idea of a Palestinian exodus from Gaza. He and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sparked anger when advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip.

Iran ups the ante against US, proxies strike Iraq military base with ballistic missiles
Rebecca Rommen/Business Insider/January 21, 2024
US personnel in Iraq are undergoing traumatic brain injury evaluations.
The evaluations follow a missile barrage launched by Iran-back militias on the Al-Asad airbase. Regional tensions have been escalating, with this militia's actions mirroring the Houthis' aggression. US personnel in Iraq are undergoing traumatic brain injury evaluations after Iranian-backed militias launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and rockets at the Al-Asad airbase in western Iraq on Saturday, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The press release stated that multiple ballistic missiles and rockets were launched at about 6:30 p.m. Baghdad time on January 20. "Most of the missiles were intercepted by the base's air defense systems while others impacted on the base," per CENTCOM. CENTCOM said that damage assessments are ongoing, and several US personnel are undergoing evaluation for traumatic brain injuries. At least one Iraqi service member was reportedly wounded. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed militia group, claimed responsibility for firing the missiles that were launched from inside the country. The attack is believed to be the largest among more than 140 incidents since mid-October, signifies a pattern of Iranian-backed militia groups targeting US forces in Iraq and Syria, ABC News reports. The attacks are seen by some as acts of solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, mirroring similar actions by Houthi militants in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden against commercial shipping. Unlike previous attacks primarily using Iranian-made drones and rockets, Saturday's assault involved more powerful ballistic missiles and repesents an escalatory move, per ABC News. The Pentagon says strikes on Houthi rebels are 'defensive' measures.Missiles in a military parade held by the Houthis to mark the anniversary of their takeover in Sanaa,
The Houthis rebels' attacks on Red Sea shipping sought to support a ceasefire in Gaza. The heightened tensions between Iran-backed militias and the US in Iraq follow a US military drone strike in Baghdad on January 4, which targeted a senior leader of one such militia, the Guardian reports. There are 2,500 US troops still stationed in Iraq, part of the ongoing mission to counter the Islamic State terror group. Another 900 US troops are deployed to Syria to prevent a resurgence by the Islamic State, the Pentagon reports.

Officials report at least 25 dead in shelling of a market in Russian-occupied Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)//January 21, 2024
At least 25 people were killed Sunday by shelling at a market on the outskirts of the city of Donetsk in Russian-occupied Ukraine, local officials reported Sunday. A further 20 people were injured in the strike on the suburb of Tekstilshchik, including two children, said Denis Pushilin, head of the Russian-installed authorities in Donetsk. He said that the shells had been fired by the Ukrainian military. Kyiv has not commented on the event and the claims could not be independently verified by The Associated Press. Emergency services continue to work on the scene, Pushilin said. Also Sunday, fire broke out at a chemical transport terminal at Russia’s Ust-Luga port following two explosions, regional officials said. Local media reported that the port had been attacked by Ukrainian drones, causing a gas tank to explode. The blaze was at a site run by Russia’s second-largest natural gas producer, Novatek, 165 kilometers southwest of St. Petersburg. In a press statement to Russian media outlet RBC, the company said that the fire was the result of an “external influence.” It also said that it had paused operations at the port. Yuri Zapalatsky, the head of Russia’s Kingisepp district, where the port is based, said in a statement that there were no casualties, but that the area had been placed on high alert. News outlet Fontanka reported that two drones had been detected flying towards St Petersburg Sunday morning, but that they were redirected towards the Kingisepp district. The Associated Press could not independently verify the reports. The Russian Ministry of Defense did not report any drone activity in the Kingisepp area in its daily briefing. It said that four Ukrainian drones had been downed in Russia’s Smolensk region, and that two more had been shot down in the Oryol and Tula regions. Russian officials previously confirmed that a Ukrainian drone had been downed on the outskirts of St. Petersburg on Thursday.

Israel's Netanyahu rejects Hamas conditions for hostage deal which include 'outright surrender'
JERUSALEM (Reuters)/January 21, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected conditions presented by Hamas to end the war and release hostages that would include Israel's complete withdrawal and leaving Hamas in power in Gaza. "In exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands the end of the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of all the murderers and rapists," Netanyahu said in a statement. "And leaving Hamas intact." "I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas," Netanyahu said. A deal brokered in late November by the United States, Qatar and Egypt saw the release of more than 100 of the estimated 240 hostages who were taken captive to Gaza during an attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Since that deal ended Netanyahu has faced mounting pressure to secure the release the 136 hostages who remain in captivity. Netanyahu also took a stronger line on the issue of Palestinian statehood than previously. "I will not compromise on full Israeli security control of all territory west of the Jordan River," he said. U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday said he spoke with Netanyahu about possible solutions for creation of an independent Palestinian state, suggesting one path could involve a non-militarized government. Netanyahu appeared on Saturday to push back against Biden's remarks about Palestinian statehood after the war against Hamas in Gaza ends as the two men do not see eye-to-eye on Palestinians having a state, a solution Biden has advocated to achieve long-term peace. In the statement on Sunday, Netanyahu repeated that he would insist upon "full Israeli security control over all the territory west of Jordan." Netanyahu said that he faced down "international and internal pressures," to change this position. "My insistence is what prevented for years the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have posed an existential danger to Israel," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu again rejects Palestinian sovereignty amid fresh US push for two-state solution
Abeer Salman, Mitchell McCluskey, Ibrahim Dahman, Sophie Tanno, Kevin Liptak and MJ Lee, CNN/January 21, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday rejected calls for Palestinian sovereignty following talks with US President Joe Biden on post-war Gaza.
Netanyahu said Israel’s need for security control over all territory west of Jordan is incompatible with the existence of a Palestinian state. “I will not compromise on full Israeli security control over all the territory west of Jordan - and this is contrary to a Palestinian state,” Netanyahu said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
He did not provide any other details in his one-line post in Hebrew. The territory west of Jordan encompasses Israel, and both the occupied West Bank and Hamas-run Gaza, where Israel is battling the militant group following the October 7 attacks.
The post comes amid a rift with the US, Israel’s most important ally, on what Gaza will look like once the conflict ends, and exposes the complex position Netanyahu is in. The Israeli prime minister is facing competing pressure from the international community to allow the creation of a viable Palestinian state and domestically to guarantee Israel’s security, most notably from far-right members of his coalition.
Adding to the pressure, he is also facing calls for early elections, with thousands taking to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday. Critics have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war to stay in power. War cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot says he hopes that is not the case, but also says elections should happen within months.His one-line statement on Saturday runs counter to what he told President Biden a day earlier, CNN reporting suggests.
Netanyahu told Biden in a private phone call on Friday that he was not foreclosing the possibility of a Palestinian state in any form, a personal familiar with the conversation told CNN.
Biden administration officials have recently been engaged in discussions about a future demilitarized Palestinian state, an idea the US president finds “intriguing,” the source said.
Following the phone call, their first in weeks, Biden told reporters he believed Netanyahu could ultimately be convinced of some kind of two-state solution.
“There are a number of types of two-state solutions,” he said.
“There’s a number of countries that are members of the UN that are still – don’t have their own military; a number of states that have limitations, and so I think there’s ways in which this can work,” Biden added.
But the day after Biden spoke, the Israeli prime minister’s office said in a statement: “In his conversation with President Biden, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated his policy that after Hamas is destroyed Israel must retain security control over Gaza to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel, a requirement that contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty.”
Biden and Netanyahu remain publicly at odds over the question of what will happen to Gaza once the Israel-Hamas war concludes, despite intense American efforts over the past several months to engage officials in Israel and the wider region on a plan they hope can finally resolve the decades-long conflict.
Biden and his top officials — including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Israel and the region last week — have said the creation of a Palestinian state with guarantees for Israel’s security is the only way to finally bring peace and stability to the Middle East. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called opposition to a two-state solution “unacceptable.”
“The refusal to accept the two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, and the denial of the right to statehood for the Palestinian people, are unacceptable,” he said in a post on X. It remains an open question how post-war Gaza will be governed but Netanyahu has had long-standing objections to a two-state solution. And while Netanyahu’s stance is contentious internationally, he faces pressure from more right-wing members of his cabinet who have caused outrage with their suggestions on what should happen to people living in Gaza.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has championed the idea of a Palestinian exodus from Gaza. He and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sparked anger when advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip

Saudi Foreign Minister: No normalization with Israel without resolving the Palestinian issue
NNA/January 21, 2024
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said in an interview with CNN broadcast today that relations with Israel cannot be normalized without a solution to the Palestinian issue. In response to a question about the impossibility of establishing normal relations without a path leading to a viable Palestinian state, the Saudi minister said: “This is the only way to achieve that. So, yes, because we need stability. Stability will only be achieved by resolving the Palestinian issue.” The Foreign Minister's statements were part of an interview that was recorded on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum held last week in Davos, Switzerland, and broadcast by CNN today. e said: "Saudi Arabia's focus at present is on reducing the escalation of the conflict in Gaza and stopping the civilian deaths there." He added: "What we see is that the Israelis are crushing Gaza and the civilian population in Gaza...There is absolutely no need for that and this is completely unacceptable and must stop."

Yemen’s presidential council appeals to world to label Houthis terrorists
SAEED AL-BATATI/Arab News/January 21, 2024
AL-MUKALLA: Yemen’s internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council asked the world on Sunday to follow the US lead in labeling the Iran-backed Houthis as terrorists and impose stiffer penalties on the militia for jeopardizing international marine trade and perpetrating crimes in Yemen.
At a meeting in Riyadh, the council praised Washington’s decision to designate the Houthis as international terrorists, encouraged the rest of the world to follow suit, and praised the international community’s joint response to the Houthi Red Sea raids. The council said in a statement it “welcomed the decision to designate the Houthi militias as a global terrorist organization and looks forward to additional sanctions against the rogue militias.”It reiterated a request to the international community to strengthen the military capabilities of Yemen’s coast guard and offer protection from the Houthis and other terrorist groups, according to the statement carried by the official news agency. The council warned that Houthi attacks in the Red Sea would result in the militarization of the crucial maritime route, raising shipping and insurance prices, and impeding the flow of critical supplies to the nation.
Yemen’s Information Minister, Muammar Al-Eryani, said that since the beginning of the Houthi military takeover, the government has pushed for the militia to be labeled as terrorists, both internally and globally, because of its human rights violations, as well as actions that undermine regional and international security. The minister reiterated his plea to the world to declare the Houthis terrorists. “We urge international allies and nations throughout the globe to follow the US government’s lead and engage in a concerted response to combat the operations of the Houthi militia. “We also urge them to put further pressure on it to quit its terrorist tactics and conform to peace obligations in line with local, regional, and international standards,” Al-Eryani said on X. The country’s National Defense Council, chaired by Rashad Al-Alimi, designated the Houthis as a terrorist group in October 2022, shortly after the militia launched missile and drone attacks on oil terminals in the southern provinces of Hadramout and Shabwa, bringing the country’s oil exports to a halt. In recent weeks, the Houthis have targeted commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea with drones and ballistic missiles. The group also seized a commercial vessel in November. The Houthis claim they want Israel to stop bombing Gaza and relieve the blockade on the enclave. To pressure the Houthis to end their attacks, the US and UK have launched dozens of strikes against military targets in militia-controlled areas of Yemen. On Saturday, the US Central Command said that US forces destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile before it was launched in the Gulf of Aden. Humanitarian groups have long resisted the labeling of Houthi terrorists, fearing it would disrupt the flow of aid through militia-controlled ports, which receive over 70 percent of essential supplies. However, Yemeni activists who support the designation view it as just another way to punish the Houthis for human rights violations, as well as a means of pressuring the group to accept peace talks to end the war. “Reclassifying the Houthi group as a terrorist organization is a triumph for the principles of responsibility, fairness, and justice as well as for the blood of innocent victims,” Yemeni human rights activist Riyadh Al-Dubae said on X.

Canadian MPs who visited West Bank urge action against "constant humiliation" of Palestinians
OTTAWA/The Canadian Press/January 21, 2024
— MPs returning from a visit to the West Bank argue Canada needs to do more to prevent escalating tensions between Palestinians and Israelis. A group of three NDP and two Liberal MPs spent last week meeting with Palestinian refugees in Jordan, as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as guests of Muslim advocacy groups. Liberal MP Shafqat Ali says they saw stark divisions in how Israeli settlers and local Palestinians are treated, with segregated roads, tense exchanges and conditions he described as "constant humiliation" of Palestinians. NDP MP Lindsay Mathyssen said she was struck by meeting Palestinian grade-school children who lamented being taught about human rights, which the students argue they don't have. Israel says its treatment of Palestinians in occupied territories is meant to shore up safety for everyone, and it has pushed back on calls by both MPs for a ceasefire to end the current war in Gaza, saying that would only enable Hamas to launch more deadly attacks. Last November, Canadian Jewish organizations sponsored a visit to Israel by Liberal and Conservative MPs to hear about the lasting impact of the Hamas attack in October that sparked the latest war.

The father of an IDF soldier killed on October 7 claimed his son's decapitated head was found in an ice cream store's freezer, report says
Nathan Rennolds/Business Insider/Sun, January 21, 2024
Adir Tahar, an IDF soldier, was killed during Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel.
A militant decapitated him and tried to sell his head for $10,000, his father has claimed. He said his head was found by Israeli forces in an ice cream store's freezer. The head of an IDF soldier who was killed during Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel was found in an ice cream store's freezer, his father said in an interview on Israel's Channel 14 news station. Sergeant Adir Tahar, 19, was killed as Hamas militants threw grenades during their assault on Israeli territory, The Times of Israel reported. He was then beheaded, and his head was taken into the Gaza Strip, his father, David, told Channel 14, per the report. During an interrogation, a Hamas militant also claimed that he had attempted to sell the head for $10,000, he added. "That is just insane barbarism." In an email to Business Insider, the IDF said it had "no information that can confirm the report about the selling of the head." It did not refer to the other aspects of the story. However, the Israeli Foreign Ministry shared the story in a post on X, formerly Twitter. According to the post, David Tahar told Channel 14 that he spent two months searching for his son's severed head before it was eventually discovered in a freezer in Gaza. Tahar's head was found by elite Israeli troops supported by tanks in an ice cream store, per The Times of Israel. "I did everything I could. It wasn't easy. In the end, I got a body without a head. I insisted very much with the army to see the body. They tried to explain to me that I should not see it," David said. "Half an hour before I buried my child, his body arrived at Mount Herzl, I opened the coffin when I was alone," he added. "He was unrecognizable. I identified him by dog tags and a DNA test and things he had in his pants." Israeli officials would not confirm previous claims of beheadings Family belongings including teddy bears, and the Judaica shelf at a home in Kibbutz Be'eri near the Gaza border after Hamas militants attacked on October 7. In the days following the Hamas attacks, unverified reports emerged of other instances of beheadings carried out by the group, including claims that the group had decapitated babies. The IDF received widespread criticism, alleging it had spread the rumor without evidence.Responding to the backlash, a spokesperson for the force, Major Nir Dinar, said the IDF would not investigate its claims as it was "disrespectful for the dead" to do so.No Israeli officials have confirmed the story.
"We cannot confirm any numbers. What happened in Kibbutz Kfar Aza is a massacre in which women, children and toddlers, and elderly were brutally butchered in an ISIS way of action," the IDF said in a statement to Sky News at the time. President Joe Biden even mentioned the alleged findings in a speech.
"I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children," Biden said. But the White House later said that the president had not independently verified the claims. Around 1,200 people were killed in Israel during Hamas' October 7 attacks. Reports have since emerged of the brutal tactics used by the Palestinian militant group on the day, including horrific stories of widespread sexual violence and mutilation. Israel responded to the attacks with weeks of deadly airstrikes and a ground invasion of Gaza, leading to the deaths of more than 25,000 Palestinians so far. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the proposal of a Palestinian state once the conflict concludes, saying that "the war is continuing and it will continue until the end, until we achieve all of its goals."

Iranian soldier kills 5 comrades in southeastern city where IS attack killed dozens, state TV says
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)/January 21, 2024
An Iranian soldier opened fire on fellow soldiers Sunday, killing five of them in the southeastern city of Kerman, where 94 people were killed in a bombing attack earlier this month, Iranian state TV reported. State TV said the shooting happened when the soldier arrived at a barracks dormitory and opened fire on the resting soldiers. It said the motive wasn't immediately clear and the suspect, who wasn't identified, was at large. No other details were released. The report said the attack took place in Kerman some 830 kilometers (515 miles), southeast of the capital Tehran. Kerman was the scene of two deadly explosions earlier this month that killed 94 people and wounded hundreds of others during an anniversary ceremony for the death of an Iranian general killed in a 2020 U.S. drone strike in Iraq. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility. Similar shootings at military bases have been occasionally reported in Iran. In 2022, a soldier killed another soldier and three policemen at a roadside police station in the country's south.Military service of up to 24 months is mandatory for men aged 19 and above in Iran.

Iran blames Israel, vows revenge after Guards die in Syria strike
Agence France Presse/January 21, 2024
Iran has accused Israel of a strike in Damascus that killed five Revolutionary Guards members, and vowed to avenge the latest attack on the Islamic republic's personnel abroad. President Ebrahim Raisi said Tehran would not let the "cowardly assassination" go unanswered. Israel has been accused of intensifying strikes targeting senior Iranian and allied figures in Syria and Lebanon -- backers of the Palestinian militant group Hamas -- raising fears that fighting in the Gaza Strip could spread further. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed it lost five members in the strike that it blamed on Israel, its regional arch-foe. Hamas, which is backed by Tehran, also condemned what it called a "heinous crime."In a statement, Raisi condemned "this cowardly attack.""There is no doubt that continuing such terrorist and criminal acts ... will not remain without a response" from Iran, he said.
Earlier, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani also blamed Israel and said Tehran "reserves the right to respond to organised terrorism" at the appropriate time and place. Quoting an informed source, Iran's Mehr news agency said "the Revolutionary Guards' Syria intel chief" and his deputy were among those "martyred in the attack on Syria by Israel." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said the Israeli strike on the Mazzeh neighborhood of the capital killed 10 people. Iranian media reported one of the dead was "General Sadegh Omidzadeh, responsible in Syria for intelligence for the Quds Force," the IRGC foreign operations arm. There has been no official confirmation of his death. The Guards' Sepah news agency named four of those killed as Hojatollah Omidvar, Ali Aghazadeh, Hossein Mohammadi and Saeed Karimi. The mid-morning strike, which sent a large plume of smoke skywards, was also reported by Syrian state media. Official news agency SANA said a residential building in Mazzeh had been targeted in what it called "an Israeli aggression."The defense ministry said the strike killed "a number of civilians."
Hundreds of strikes -
The building was cordoned off as rescuers searched the rubble for survivors.
"I heard the explosion clearly in the western Mazzeh area, and I saw a large cloud of smoke," one resident told AFP, requesting anonymity over security concerns. "The sound was similar to a missile explosion."Asked about the strike, the Israeli military told AFP: "We do not comment on reports from the foreign media." During more than a decade of civil war in Syria, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces as well as Syrian army positions. But such attacks have intensified since the war between Israel and Hamas, which like Lebanon's Hezbollah movement is an ally of Iran, began on October 7. The Observatory said the strike hit a four-story building "where Iran-aligned leaders were meeting." The Britain-based war monitor with a network of sources inside Syria said the targeted building belonged to the IRGC and that Mazzeh is known to be a high-security zone where leaders of the IRGC and pro-Iran Palestinian factions live. The neighborhood also houses the United Nations headquarters, embassies and restaurants. "They were for sure targeting senior members" of Tehran-backed groups or Iranian forces, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.
Exchanges of fire -
Saturday's presumed Israeli strike was the second high-profile targeted assassination in Syria in less than a month. In December, an air strike killed a senior Iranian general in Syria. Razi Moussavi was the most senior commander of the Quds Force to be killed outside Iran since a January 2020 U.S. drone strike in Baghdad killed IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani. On January 2 in neighboring Lebanon, where the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah holds sway, Hamas deputy Saleh al-Arouri was killed in a strike widely blamed on Israel. Days later, Israel killed top Hezbollah commander Wissam Tawil in a strike in south Lebanon. Since the Israel-Hamas war began there have been regular cross-border exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Saturday's Damascus strike came four days after the IRGC said it attacked "an Israeli intelligence headquarters" in Arbil, capital of Iraq's northern autonomous province of Kurdistan. Iraqi authorities said the attack killed four civilians and wounded six others. Israel rarely comments on individual strikes targeting Syria, but has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran, which backs President Bashar al-Assad's government, to expand its presence there. Since 2011, Syria has endured a bloody conflict that has claimed more than half a million lives and displaced several million people.

Russia is likely using Ukraine's freezing winter to ramp up its front-line assaults — but its losses are soaring, British intelligence says
Business InsiderSun, January 21, 2024
Russia is ramping up its offensive operations on the front lines in Ukraine, per the UK MoD. It's likely taking advantage of the "freezing ground conditions" to move armored vehicles. Data from the Ukrainian General Staff suggests these attacks result in huge losses. Russia is ramping up its front-line offensives against Ukraine, likely taking advantage of the "freezing ground conditions" to move armored vehicles around the country, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an update on the conflict on Sunday. In the military intelligence update, the MoD said that data from the Ukrainian General Staff pointed "toward a steady increase in the intensity of Russian offensive activity across the front over the last two weeks." But Russia's mounting attacks are leading to huge losses to its military vehicles and personnel, the MoD said, citing data from the Ukrainian General Staff. From January 14 to January 18, it said the data suggested that Russian military vehicle losses had climbed 88%, while tank losses had soared 95%. The number of Russian casualties over the period had also increased by 15%, it added. For example, Russian forces are repeatedly carrying out large-scale infantry "meat assaults" on the city of Avdiivka, a Ukrainian commander said, CNN reported. "Assault after assault, non-stop. If we kill 40 to 70 of them with drones in a day, the next day they renew their forces and continue to attack," "Teren," an artillery reconnaissance commander of Ukraine's 110th Mechanized Brigade, told CNN.
Russia has become increasingly reliant on high-risk frontal assaults, or "human-wave attacks," which attempt to overwhelm Ukrainian positions.
'When roads stop existing'
Russian forces may be attempting to make the most of the hard, frozen grounds left by Ukraine's harsh winter before the spring thaw and mud season, which caught Russia out at the outbreak of the war in February 2022, set in again. The rapid melting of snow and ice in parts of eastern Europe in spring gives way to thick mud that makes travel extremely difficult. Russians call the period "Rasputitsa," translated as "when roads stop existing," The Guardian reported. The mud season causes problems for Russia and Ukraine, with artillery and military vehicles trapped in the sodden, heavy clay soil. Butm experts previously told Business Insider that Ukraine's US-provided Abrams tanks could be key during the mud season fighting. "The Abrams was made for this environment," Robert Greenway, a former adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute think tank, said. "The mud could become impassable for almost any vehicle," Greenway said, "but the reality is that the Abrams is best equipped to deal with that environment, far better than any other tracked vehicle in existence."

Russia deploys Admiral Essen in Black Sea rotation
The New Voice of Ukraine/January 21, 2024
Russia has swapped out a small missile ship for the frigate Admiral Essen in the Black Sea, Ukrainian Southern Defense Forces reported on Telegram on Jan. 20. The missile threat remains high, with Russia currently fielding the capacity to launch eight Kalibr cruise missiles at Ukraine. Eleven Russian ships have been deployed for combat duty in the Black Sea, including a Kalibr cruise missile carrier, which is capable of carrying a total of eight missiles. There is also one Russian ship stationed in the Azov Sea and three more in the Mediterranean, including two Kalibr carriers.
Russia deploys eight ships to Black Sea, including two missile carriers. Ukrainian missile strike on Russian warship Admiral Essen marked debut of Neptune missile — Navy. We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Blinken departs for West Africa as Russia and China look to leverage their influence
CNN/January 21, 2024
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken departs for a four-nation trip to Africa on Sunday as the Biden administration seeks to prove the US is a key partner on a continent where China and Russia have exerted their influence. Blinken is slated to visit Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Angola in a bid to show that Africa remains a priority amid a slew of global crises. He sets off on his third international trip of the year as Israel’s offensive in Gaza continues to exact a massive humanitarian toll; attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea have continued unabated, despite a series of US strikes meant to deter them; and the war in Ukraine wages on, approaching the start of its third year. Though countering efforts by Russia and China to exert power in the area is not top of Blinken’s agenda, the US’ two major geopolitical rivals for years worked to spread their influence in the continent.
State Department spoksperson Matt Miller said the trip is important, describing the African nations as “incredibly important countries that require US engagement.” “We have challenges on the continent of Africa, but … we also have a lot of opportunities that the president has made a priority, and the secretary has made a priority,” he said Thursday. Molly Phee, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, described the trip as having a “forward-looking” agenda. “We think this trip will hopefully be very positive,” she said on a call with reporters Thursday. “I think it will demonstrate the advances that Africans have made that will contribute to the continued progress on the continent.” Blinken is slated to discuss economic issues, as well as security, including the terrorist threat in the Sahel. He is also expected to discuss August’s military coup in Niger, which overthrew the elected leader of one of America’s top partners in the region. Blinken arrives in West Africa days after the military junta in Niger agreed to strengthen ties with Russia, which has a strong foothold in the region. “We don’t have any objection with countries diversifying partnerships,” Phee said. “Obviously, if they chose to have a partnership with countries like Russia, that would be very complicated.
“I think if they just look west to Mali and see the increase in civilian casualties and the increase in security attacks since the junta government in Mali invited in the [Russian mercenary organization] Wagner Group, and kicked out the French – that isn’t a model that I would want to follow or I think most people would want to follow, if you were governing a country,” she said. However, “the Russian presence has always been there in West Africa,” explained Oge Onubogu, Africa program director at the Wilson Center. “They’ve just adapted and figured out how they can take advantage of the opportunities now.”
Part of how Russia has been able to do so, she said, is by “exacerbating the frustrations that people are already feeling … exploiting the frustrations of citizens to some extent.”“I think it is important that with this visit, the US government and secretary acknowledges the frustrations that citizens feel,” Onubogu told CNN.Blinken’s visit to the region also comes days after China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, wrapped his own swing through Africa, in which he also visited Ivory Coast. Phee dismissed the idea that the US is trying to compete with Beijing in Africa, saying it’s the press “who frame this as a US-China soccer match.”
“We don’t,” she said. “If China didn’t exist, we would be fully engaged in Africa. Africa is important for its own sake and it’s important for American interests.”
“We want to highlight our response to African concerns,” she continued, adding that the visiting US delegation hopes to “look at a pharmaceutical company where we’ve helped support Africans develop their own manufacturing capabilities.” Phee said the US has supported infrastructure projects, including a “substantial” US investment in a project in Angola called the Lobito corridor. Still, China has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure projects in the continent, and “people are seeing China’s influence that way,” Onubogu said. “When you go to Zambia or you’re in … Nigeria or Ghana, you look at the airports, those airports were also built through funding from the Chinese,” she said. However, Onubogu noted that “there’s an opportunity for us to be strategic and not necessarily try to compete with China” but rather to “be strategic and look at our comparative advantages.” The US can “be strategic in where we invest in infrastructure, be strategic on the values that we have, on democracy, governance strengthening programs, on our health strengthening programs,” she said. “These are areas that a lot of Africans recognize that the US has strengths in.” Blinken is expected to discuss such areas of strength, including that health partnership and food security. The top US diplomat, an avid soccer fan, may also attend a match at the continent’s biggest tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.This is Blinken’s fourth trip to the continent as secretary of state, and several Cabinet officials have also visited. Still, there is expected to be scrutiny around the fact that President Joe Biden has yet to visit the continent, despite a promise that he planned to do so in 2023. Biden “remains serious about his desire to travel to Africa,” Phee said Thursday. “I think many will view this visit by the secretary as just another one of those high-level visits,” Onubogu said. “There’s no number of Cabinet-level visits that can make up for one presidential visit,” said Cameron Hudson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Africa Program.

White House defends retaliation against Houthis: 'Deterrence is not a light switch'
ABC News/AYESHA ALI/January 21, 2024
A top White House national security official is defending the repeated U.S. strikes on Houthis in Yemen, amid attacks by the militant group on international ships in the Red Sea, which has drawn America into a pattern of back-and-forth retaliatory operations."In terms of how this is playing out, I think one thing that's important to keep in mind is deterrence is not a light switch," the White House deputy national security adviser, Jon Finer, told ABC News "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz on Sunday. "It requires a pattern and a practice of activity over time and can't be accessed based on a snapshot of what's happening at any given moment."
Raddatz had asked Finer: "Where does this end? It's in this stage of tit for tat."
President Joe Biden acknowledged to reporters last week that the strikes weren't stopping the Houthis but that they would continue. "The purposes here go well beyond deterrence," Finer told Raddatz. "We are also seeking to degrade the Houthis' ability to continue launching these attacks."
Since strikes on Red Sea ships began escalating in recent weeks, the U.S. has also announced an international task force to, essentially, help police the Red Sea area from further attacks. The U.S. has taken diplomatic steps, too, Finer said on "This Week." "We've imposed sanctions on the Houthis, we have gotten dozens of countries to issue statements condemning their attacks," he said. Last week, the Biden administration announced that the Houthis would once again be classified as a terrorist organization, reimposing a designation the White House had earlier lifted out of concerns about how it could affect Yemen's ongoing civil war. "This is not an attack just on the United States," Finer said. "This is an attack on the entire global economy and the world is standing up and saying they won't tolerate that."Both the Houthis in Yemen and Iran, whom the U.S. calls a key backer of the Houthis, have said they are carrying out strikes in response to Israel's bombardment of Gaza in order to take out Hamas in the wake of Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack. The altercations in the Red Sea, at Israel's border with Lebanon and at U.S. military sites in Iraq and Syria, as well as elsewhere in the Middle East, have raised concerns that Israel's war with Hamas could spill into a wider regional conflict. That's something the U.S. has maintained it doesn't want.
At the same time, U.S. officials have said they must respond to strikes from Iranian-allied groups like the Houthis and others. On Saturday, an American airbase in western Iraq came under fire from Iranian-backed fighters, military officials said. Finer, on "This Week," said, "I'm not going to get ahead of any decisions the president may make, but you can be sure that we are taking this extremely seriously and we'll have more to say about it soon." Raddatz asked Finer about the U.S. decision to not take more direct actions against Iran. Finer said the U.S. rejects "the justification and the rationale that because there is a conflict going on between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, that entitles a group to take action, military actions, against the entire global economy, against shippers ... that have nothing to do with that conflict."He went on to say that "we have held Iran responsible for this in a number of ways.""We have taken military action against sites in Iraq and Syria tied to [Iran], which supports these militias," Finer said.
"I'm not going to sit here and say we are going to take this or that action ahead of decision-making," he said, "but we have been quite clear and we have been quite willing to take action to hold Iran responsible for these attacks in the past." Raddatz also asked Finer about the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where Israel is continuing its now monthslong campaign against Hamas and where approximately 25,000 people have been killed, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Finer said last month that the White House thinks Israel "did not show sufficient care for civilian life" in Northern Gaza -- echoing what various other high-level Biden administration officials have been saying, trying to balance opposition to Hamas with public concern for Palestinian civilians. Referring to his previous comments, Raddatz asked on Sunday, "Have things changed and what do we do about them?" "We have stood up for Israel's right to take defensive actions against Hamas so that this threat cannot be perpetrat[ed] against them again. But we've also been quite clear that the way in which Israel conducts this conflict is of great concern to us," Finer said. He told Raddatz that the U.S. had seen a a recent "shift" in the fighting in which Israel has begun "to focus more on high-value targets, on Hamas leadership." Still, "There needs to be more humanitarian assistance going into Gaza," Finer said. And while he called out "small but consequential steps" like progress with a border crossing opening and the arrival of some goods, he said that was "not enough."
"And so we're gonna continue to put the pressure on and continue to try to work day in, day out, in excruciating detail to make sure that the humanitarian assistance in Gaza is improved as this conflict shifts to a different phase," Finer said.
White House defends retaliation against Houthis: 'Deterrence is not a light switch' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Tens of thousands of protesters across France call on Macron not to sign immigration law
France 24/January 21, 2024
Tens of thousands of people marched in the streets of cities across France on Sunday to call on President Emmanuel Macron not to sign into law tough new legislation on immigration that they say bears the footprint of the far right and betrays French values. According to the Interior Ministry, 75,000 people took part across the country, with 16,000 protesters turning out in Paris. The hard-left CGT union put the number of protesters nationwide at 150,000. The timing of the protests was critical, coming four days before the Constitutional Council decides on Thursday whether all articles in the law — passed in December — conform with the French Constitution. The bill strengthens France’s ability to deport foreigners considered undesirable and makes it tougher for foreigners to take advantage of social welfare, among other measures. The protest was called by 200 figures from various sectors, including the arts and the unions. The law “was written under the dictate of the merchants of hate who dream of imposing on France their project of ‘national preference,’” the signatories of the call to march wrote. National preference, under which the French, not foreigners, should profit from the riches of the land, has long been the rallying cry of the far-right National Rally party. Also on the horizon is the possibility of a victory in 2027 presidential elections by National Rally leader Marine Le Pen. After two presidential mandates, Macron will not be in the running.

Ron DeSantis ends his struggling presidential bid before New Hampshire and endorses Donald Trump
WASHINGTON (AP)/January 21, 2024
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his Republican presidential campaign Sunday on the eve of the New Hampshire primary and endorsed Donald Trump, ending a White House bid that failed to meet expectations that he would emerge as a serious challenger to the former president. “It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance," he said in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary comes Tuesday. The ambitious big-state governor entered the 2024 presidential contest with major advantages in his quest to take on Trump, and early primary polls suggested DeSantis was in a strong position to do just that. He and his allies amassed a political fortune well in excess of $100 million, and he boasted a significant legislative record on issues important to many conservatives, like abortion and the teaching of race and gender issues in schools. Such advantages did not survive the reality of presidential politics in 2024. From a high-profile announcement that was plagued by technical glitches to constant upheavals to his staff and campaign strategy, DeSantis struggled to find his footing in the primary. He lost the Iowa caucuses — which he had vowed to win — by 30 percentage points to Trump.And now, DeSantis’ political future is in question after suspending his presidential bid after just one voting contest. The 45-year-old is term limited as Florida governor.

Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on January 21-22/2024
Dispatch: Inside the only place in Israel where Jews and Arabs choose to live together
Sophia Yan/The Telegraph/January 21, 2024
Perched on a hill overlooking the Ayalon Valley sits a cluster of homes framed by pink bougainvillea and fragrant fig trees.
‌This idyllic spot between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is the only village in Israel where Palestinians and Jews purposefully choose to live together.
‌‌“When you come in here, you feel like you’re in this peaceful bubble,” said Adam Tali, 21, a Palestinian who lives here with his family. “When you step outside, you obviously get hit by reality.`’
The Oct 7 Hamas attack in Israel – killing 1,200 people and taking 240 as hostages – shook the village of 300 residents to its core, as it did the entire nation.
The foundational tenets of the community – peace, mutual respect, equality – were suddenly under threat.
“The first few days, it wasn’t just the horror of what happened,” said Eldad Joffe, 68, a Jewish Israeli elected as chairman of the municipal council, who took up the post just as war erupted.
“It was also the sense that the state is not functioning and that things are falling apart.”
‌The community immediately shut its front gates and organised a night patrol – in calmer times, the village had been vandalised, under threat from extremist Jews who opposed the idea of peaceful co-existence.
‌But behind the gates there was also tension.
‌One week after the initial Hamas attack, residents began to gather in the evenings at the White Dove Hall, near the village entrance. ‌However, the village’s 40 Palestinian and 40 Jewish families met separately to speak – and often to vent.
‌“Only from the third meeting onwards, we said we felt safe enough to sit together,” said Mr Joffe.‌ It was not easy. ‌“As someone who lives in the middle, Oct 7 was hard for me as well,” said Nadim Tali, 23, a Palestinian. “I felt the blow as someone who has Jewish friends… and also friends in the south, where the attacks were.”
It got tougher still when his best friend, Adam Ben-Shabbat, 23, became one of the 360,000 reservists called to serve in the war.
‌A few years ago, Mr Ben-Shabbat joined the military – as mandated by the Israeli government for Jewish citizens, with 32 months of service for men and 24 for women. Conscription has long been a sensitive, complicated issue for the village.
“You can’t create an ‘oasis of peace’ and then have people join the military. It contradicts the whole shtick of it,” said Adam Tali, Nadim’s brother.
For many Palestinians, the Israeli military is the most visible symbol of occupation and oppression. But for many Jews it’s a way to serve their country and, depending on the role they take up, a potential launching pad for various careers.
‘Army is the biggest villain’
“The army is like the biggest villain in our life,” said Nadim. “For Adam, he sees it as security.”When Mr Ben-Shabbat first enlisted, some of his friends boycotted a farewell party. His family, staunch nationalists, saw it as “an honourable thing to do.”
“For me, as a Jew who grew up here, this is the law,” he said.
“One cannot choose to refuse the law when it suits, and also the belief that we need protection as a country.”During his first stint in the army some friends from the village wouldn’t hang out with him when he was in uniform; one friend stopped talking to him entirely for six months. “After I finished, I really wanted to let go, and just be Adam from Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom, and to have this identity only,” he said, vowing never to put on a uniform ever again. In October Mr Ben-Shabbat was ordered back to the army, along with his brother. The school welcomes Arab and Jewish children and has reopened since the start of the Israel-Hamas war
‌This time it brought the group of friends closer, as it pushed them into deep discussions in an attempt to work out their differences – the football games of their youth now replaced by political debates in their 20s.
‌“We don’t have another option; we don’t have other friends!” Mr Ben-Shabbat said. “They understand me fully…more than anyone in the world.”
‌As the war continues, Nadim and two other friends gather weekly in hopes of finding common ground, and to organise collective thoughts on paper – a statement they can all agree on. ‌“I still say [to Adam], ‘I understand your decision [to join], but I disagree with it,’” said Nadim. ‌The Oasis of Peace was founded by the late Rev Bruno Hussar – a Jew born in 1911 in Egypt, ordained as a Dominican priest, and later naturalised as an Israeli citizen. ‌In the 1970s, in between two Arab-Israeli wars, he convinced a nearby Trappist monastery, Latrun, to lease 100 barren acres to him for 100 years – at just 25 cents a year. ‌From a passage in the book of Isaiah came the name: “My people shall dwell in an oasis of peace.”‌His vision was for an interfaith community for Muslims, Christians and Jews, aimed at fostering mutual understanding and respect.
Rayek Rizek, 68, and his wife began visiting the village before settling there in 1984, joining 22 adults and a handful of children. There were no paved roads, and spotty access to water and electricity. More than three months into war, things are starting to settle into a new normal at the village. The primary school has re-opened, kids are gathering for play dates, and group meditations are being held.
‌Everyone agrees that compassion needs to go both ways – but it’s a work in progress.
First time Israel suffered ‘huge blow’
Adam Tali added: “Something I feel is getting worked on in this village right now more than ever, because it’s one of the first times that the Israelis suffered a huge blow.”‌Mr Rizek said “we did not come here as professionals in conflict resolution and conflict management.”He added: “We are normal people like everybody else, who wanted to take this chance…take this challenge.”
‌“We are the first ones, and the only ones, who are going through it,” he said.
“There is no book that you can go buy and read and teach you how to live together.”
‌Additional reporting by Quique Kierszenbaum.

We Have to Kill Those Who Preach Christianity': The Persecution of Christians, December 2023 (Christmas Edition)
Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/January 21, 2024
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20322/persecution-of-christians-december
"About 37 [Christian] individuals, primarily women, children and the disabled, were burned to death in their homes.... " — christianpost.com, December 30, 2023, Nigeria.
"Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in the Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians' lands and impose Islam...." — morningstarnews.org, December 26, 2023, Nigeria.
"[I]t is also the existence of disbelief itself that is a 'grievance'," — Aymenn Jawad al Tamimi, December , 2023, Philippines.
[I]n Austria, on Dec. 9, Heiligenkreuz Abbey received a bomb threat by phone. Police later confirmed that it had an "Islamist overtone". The caller had said "Convert to Islam, or I'll bomb you away!".... Father John Paul commented: "[I]t encourages us even more to pray and work for peace, healing and reconciliation." — puls24.at, December 11, 2023.
"Reports include statements like, 'We have to kill those who preach Christianity, and these Christians have no place in Mauritania.'" — persecution.org, December 13, 2023.
Two Christian evangelists, Joseph and Isaac, after Muslims beat them for quoting the Koran, spent Christmas Day in jail for "blasphemy." The report does not indicate which verses were deemed so objectionable, or why. — morningstarnews.org, December 22, 2023, Uganda.
According to a January 2 report: "Three migrants who allegedly planned an attack on Cologne Cathedral are free again. A judge let them go after just one night in custody." Pictured: Police conduct security checks on visitors at Cologne Cathedral on December 24, 2023 in Cologne, Germany, after indications of an Islamist terror threat. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
The following are among the abuses and murders inflicted on Christians by Muslims throughout the month of December 2023.
Christmas Slaughters
Nigeria: Beginning on Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day, Muslim terrorists massacred nearly 200 Christians. Well-armed Muslim Fulani tribesmen hacked, stabbed, riddled with bullets and burned alive Christians, many of whom were in the process of celebrating Christmas. According to one report:
"At least 25 communities across three Local Government Areas [in Plateau State] were targeted. Survivors recounted militia men attacking in large numbers, indiscriminately killing and destroying homes, vehicles, farmlands and other properties. About 37 individuals, primarily women, children and the disabled, were burned to death in their homes. Eight churches and parsonages were also destroyed..."
More than 300 Christians were left seriously wounded; 29,350 people displaced, and countless homes and churches—in just one village, 221 homes—torched during the jihadist raids. "My house was burnt," said Naomi, a local whose four family members were murdered, "and I mourned on Christmas day."
Several Christian leaders were also killed, including one pastor, his wife, and five children, said Dawzino Mallau, another local: "These terrorists who attacked these Christian communities were in the hundreds," he added, "and they carried out the attacks as the hapless Christians were preparing for Christmas programs lined up by their pastors." Another report stated:
"Most of the Christians killed were women, children and the elderly unable to escape..... Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in the Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians' lands and impose Islam... Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors' 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people."
Philippines: On Sunday, Dec. 3, Muslim terrorists bombed a Catholic mass being held in the gymnasium of Mindanao State University, Marawi. Four Christians—three women and one man—were killed, and more than 50 injured. "The explosion caused panic among dozens of worshippers and left the victims bloodied and sprawled on the ground," said the campus security chief. "At least two of the wounded were fighting for their lives." Based on camera footage, the terrorists arrived on motorcycle and left a bag full of explosives in the gymnasium before riding away.
Mass was being held in the gymnasium because there is no chapel on the university's grounds. Reminiscent of the Jolo Cathedral bombings of Jan. 27, 2019, when 20 Christians were killed and more than a 100 wounded, the explosion created a crater in the gym floor.
In Rome, Pope Francis offered prayers for the victims and appealed to "Christ the prince of peace (to) grant to all the strength to turn from violence and overcome every evil with good." The Islamic State later claimed the attack, and published an article, "The Philippines Are a Field of Jihad," where, according to analyst Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi,
"The Philippines is presented as a place where disbelievers (in this case, the Christians) oppress Muslims and are at war with them, and as part of this war the Christians have also managed to enlist 'apostate' [lapsed Muslim] allies from deviant groups that had espoused the idea of independence or autonomous rule for Muslims, contrasting with the Islamic State's purist stance of fighting for belief against disbelief and for God's law against man-made law. The Christians face a three-way choice: conversion, subjugation as dhimmis who pay jizya (poll-tax) in accordance with the dictates of Qur'an 9:29, or death.
"Thus, while part of the Islamic State's 'grievances' entail supposed oppression of Muslims, it is also the existence of disbelief itself that is a 'grievance', entailing subjugation and never-ending war to realise a global vision of conquest..."
Uganda: During a Christmas Day jihadist raid, Muslims of the Allied Democratic Forces, a terrorist front, slaughtered three Christians—a 75-year-old grandmother and her two grandchildren, aged five and 13. According to the slain woman's son Wilson Byaruhanga:
"The attackers were shouting the Muslim slogan, 'Allah Akbar' [God is greatest] and saying, 'We have to teach these infidels a lesson during this Christmas celebration.'"
After hiding his sick wife, and,
"on coming back to pick up my mother and the children, I found the Muslim terrorists were already at my mother's house, and there was a loud bang [from gunshot] and sound from the iron sheet roof, which was so frightening...I found out that the Muslim terrorists had killed my mother and the two children."
Six days earlier, the same Islamic terror group had slaughtered ten other Christians in another village.
Also in Uganda, a Muslim man killed his mother for becoming Christian. Before dying from her wounds, Sawuba Naigaga, 46, described what happened to a friend, who related that, on Dec. 15, Sawuba's son, 25, a graduate from an Islamic university, had returned home after spending four years in Saudi Arabia. That day, he heard his mother mentioning the name of Jesus while praying. According to her friend, before Sawuba died, she said:
"As I was praying with my eyes closed, my son called me, saying 'Mum, Mum—you are becoming a disgrace to the family and the religion of Allah.' I kept quiet, and he pushed me hard to the wall, then I fell down. He then took a blunt object and hit me at the head. Since then, I lost all my consciousness, only to find myself in the hospital bed."
Her friend added:
"One thing which I know is that she kept her faith silent from her family members, including her son.... I ran to Sawuba's home after hearing wailing from her house and an alarm from neighbors. I dashed quickly to the scene, and I found her in a pool of blood but in an unconscious state. We rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she breathed her last breath after two days on Dec. 17 due to internal bleeding."
Austria and Germany: Several terror plots were uncovered. In Germany, authorities arrested a Muslim man suspected of plotting a terror attack on the Christmas market of Hanover. The 20-year-old asylum seeker, originally from Iraq, allegedly planned on stabbing Christmas shoppers randomly with a knife. Although the "Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office is currently not providing any further background information," according to the Dec. 1 report, the man "is said to be an Islamist who allegedly agreed to carry out such an attack in support of the terrorist militia 'Islamic State' (IS)."
Special Forces also managed to arrested several Islamic terrorists who planned on bombing churches and other targets during Christmas. According to a Dec. 24 report,
"After a specific terror warning, there was a major operation at Cologne Cathedral on Saturday [Dec. 23] evening. Security authorities in Austria, Germany and Spain have received indications that an Islamist terrorist cell may want to carry out several attacks in Europe on New Year's Eve or Christmas."
Vienna police confirmed that an increase in terrorist activities always occurs during the Christian season: "there is generally an increased risk in Austria during the Christmas holidays." The remainder of the report makes clear just how dangerous, and onerous, the Christmas season has become in Germany and Austria in recent years:
"Since terrorist actors across Europe are calling for attacks on Christian events—especially around December 24th—the security authorities have increased the corresponding protective measures in public spaces in Vienna and the federal states....
"In Cologne, the Cologne Cathedral was searched in the evening. The police operations management wanted to make sure that dangerous objects had not already been deposited in the church. That's why explosives detection dogs were used; they searched the cathedral for explosives for hours. The first all-clear was given on Sunday morning: no explosives were discovered.... [T]he cathedral is searched with sniffer dogs after the evening mass and then locked. Tomorrow all visitors will be screened before entering the church. The police and the cathedral chapter recommended avoiding bags on Christmas Eve and coming to mass early.
"In Vienna, St. Stephen's Cathedral is said to be particularly at risk. The Vienna police even announced access controls with submachine guns....
"There will be increased police precautions over the Christmas holidays. Civilian and uniformed emergency services with special equipment and long weapons are deployed. Police attention is focused primarily on churches and religious events, especially church services and Christmas markets. The measures are taken as necessary and can also include access controls if necessary. Visitors to events and church services are asked to bring a photo ID and to allow more time than usual."
Despite all of the above, according to a later report from Jan. 2, "Three migrants who allegedly planned an attack on Cologne Cathedral are free again. A judge let them go after just one night in custody."
Muslim Attacks on Christmas and Churches
Germany: On Sunday evening, Dec. 17, several life-sized nativity figures standing in front of a church were beheaded in Rüsselsheim, a migrant stronghold (images available here). Baby Jesus, Joseph, Mary, the Three Wise Men—even a donkey—were decapitated. According to one report, "the nativity scene, which was part of a Christmas marked, looked like a battlefield and the figure of Jesus in the manger was found beneath the rubble."
"The Rüsselsheim trade association that funded the nativity scene said the incident should be approached with humour, but was later criticised for downplaying the attack. 'This situation should be approached with humor and the Christmas story should be used as an analogy for solidarity and cohesion,' the association wrote on Facebook. 'Similar to the Holy Night, which was marked by unexpected twists and challenges, we see this 'Headless Night' as an opportunity to stand together and bring light into the darkness together.'"
Few locals saw it this way: "A joke is when you can laugh about it," said one resident of Rüsselsheim. "What's funny about beheading Mary and Joseph?"
Another said, "It's a barbaric act! Criminal offences must not be trivialised." Similar statue beheadings occurred during the two previous Christmases in Rüsselsheim. Police were last reported as investigating it as a "religiously motivated" crime.
Belgium: On Friday, Dec. 15, another Nativity scene was, according to a report, "lynched" in Malle: Mary and Joseph were beheaded, and the animals damaged or stolen. "Who does something like that?" was the mayor's response. Sanne Van Looy added:
"I deeply regret this a week before Christmas. A nativity scene offers so much coziness. Maria and Joseph are temporarily at the technical service, but are damaged beyond repair. It is not certain whether we will have new images by Christmas. It's going to be tight, but we'll do our best.... We invest so much in a clean and pleasant municipality. Next year then plexiglass? Less beautiful, but safer. A report has been filed with the Voorkempen police. The police will ask traders to make camera images available. Hopefully we find the perpetrators. We already have a suggestion for a community service order: temporarily playing the role of living Christmas statues."
France: On Dec. 6, a Muslim woman was arrested for breaking a bench inside a church in Nice while screaming "Allahu akbar." Described as "visibly not in her normal state"—that is, acting crazy—she was automatically hospitalized. With a significant Muslim population, Nice has witnessed many Islamic terror attacks in recent years. On Oct. 29, 2020, for example, another "Allahu akbar"-screaming Muslim man stormed the Notre-Dame Basilica of Nice, where he slaughtered two Christian women—one by beheading—and a man. In 2016, another Muslim man murdered 84 people in Nice.
Austria: A church was set on fire in Vienna, which has a large Muslim population. "Attacks on churches are not only an attack on our culture, but above all on our peaceful coexistence. Something like this cannot be tolerated under any circumstances and must have no place in our city," said Laura Sachslehner, a member of the Vienna City Council. According to the Dec 27 report:
"This is not the first worrying incident in the Ottakring district of Vienna: three suspected terrorists were arrested at the refugee centre before Christmas. As a result, increased security measures were taken by the police."
Also in Austria, on Dec. 9, Heiligenkreuz Abbey received a bomb threat by phone. Police later confirmed that it had an "Islamist overtone": the caller had said "Convert to Islam, or I'll bomb you away!"
"It makes us very sad that we have become victims of a cowardly, Islamist threat," commented Father John Paul. "But it encourages us even more to pray and work for peace, healing and reconciliation."
Italy: A man of "North African origin" set fire to a nativity scene inside a church in Parabiago. Before long, an inferno consumed much of the church. It took some time, but the fire brigade managed to quench the flames. Damage was extensive, including the destruction of a 17th- century organ.
Separately, and a few days after entering a church and demanding monetary aid from a priest, a man, who had introduced himself only as "Ali," desecrated and stole sacred objects from the church.
Sweden: On Dec. 20, St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church in Södertälje, was broken into and vandalized. Several valuable items of "great sentimental value for the church" were robbed. "We didn't expect this," said Alexander Sharoyan, a church representative. "It's sad now, like this, before Christmas. We are facing an empty altar with many sad members." Södertälje has a large Muslim migrant population. Several other churches were also attacked and crime is endemic.
United States: According to a Dec. 10 report, "Pro-Palestinian Radicals Target Symbols of Christianity":
"Radical pro-Palestinian demonstrations appear to have developed a new tactic: they are targeting Christmas tree lightings across the country, and other Christian symbols, in addition to symbols of Israel and Jewish institutions.
"The latest example was Friday's [Dec. 7] protest in Los Angeles, where pro-Palestinian radicals marched from a fundraiser for President Joe Biden to an area where there are several synagogues. They sprayed anti-Israel graffiti on the walls opposite the synagogues, and also vandalized a local church. Prior to that, pro-Palestinian activists disrupted the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center in New York City, clashing with police. Governor Gavin Newsom was forced to move California's Christmas tree lighting indoors due to the threat of protests. And in Michigan, pro-Palestinian protesters tried to drown out a children's choir at a Christmas tree lighting in Ypsilanti last month."
The report posits that one of the reasons pro-Palestinian activities have become anti-Christian "is that pro-Palestinian protests have become increasingly Islamic":
"At Friday's protest in Los Angeles, for example, Muslim participants held prayers during the demonstration outside the Biden fundraiser. Christians have faced persecution from Muslims in areas run by the Palestinian Authority, such as Bethlehem, and may have been marginalized within the movement. Many evangelical Christians are seen as pro-Israel, so that may also make churches targets of hatred, alongside synagogues."
Lebanon: Public Christmas trees were torched in two separate incidents. According to the Dec. 30 report:
"A Christmas tree was burned Saturday morning [Dec. 30] with gasoline in front of the Saint George Church... Those responsible have not yet been identified. On Christmas Eve, several people set fire to a tree in Tripoli, capital of North Lebanon, using a Molotov cocktail and attempted to burn a second one, before being arrested. The motivations behind these actions have not been disclosed."
Egypt: A group of Muslims rose in violence against the Christians of the village of 'Azib, burning homes and killing cattle, on learning that the Christians were building a church. For many years prior, the 3,000 Christian villagers did not have a church to pray in, and had to travel great distances to worship in the churches of other regions. After many years of applying for a church permit, authorities finally approved it. However, on Dec. 16, when the Christians began to dig the church's foundation, Muslims began to abuse them—to the point of torching the home, and some of the cattle, of one of the Christians involved in the digging. Security forces were sent to resume calm, and church building was temporarily halted. Two days later, on Dec. 18, the Christians were, according to an eyewitness,
"shocked by the emergence of dozens of extremists, despite the presence of security. They attacked Coptic homes to takbirat [cries of "Allahu akbar"] and chants rejecting the construction of the church—'Long and wide, we will bring the church to the ground' [which rhymes in Arabic]. They hurled rocks at some Coptic homes and set fire to others."
The report closed by saying:
"[T]he Copts are now living in a state of panic. All of them are [hiding] inside their homes following these attacks, which have created great chaos, even as police forces chase the extremists, with some of the recruits getting injured as a result of the stones hurled at them."
Indonesia: After Muslims, led by the Islamic Defenders Front, an Islamic extremist group banned since 2020, protested, officials halted the construction of a Christian school, even though it had already met all legal requirements. According to one report:
"The district council in Parepare in South Sulawesi province promised protesters that approval would be withdrawn from Gamaliel Christian School Foundation. This action came even though the foundation had met all requirements and had been granted permission to build a school.... The district council agreed to withdraw permission for construction in order to avoid possible friction..."
Muslim Persecution of Apostates, Blasphemers, and Evangelists
United States: A Muslim family in Nashville, Tenn., thrashed their son because he converted to Christianity. According to the Dec. 12 report:
"A mother, dad and son were arrested after officers responded to a welfare check to find a juvenile who appeared to be 'cut haphazardly' with lumps on his face... [T]he victim told police his family attacked him for recently becoming a Christian. The family are [sic] Muslims... The victim told officers his mother, brother and father repeatedly punched him and spat in his face. Arrest records show his mother then took a knife and scratched the back of his right hand with it. His family demanded he take back his Christianity belief and say he was a Muslim during the attacks, the arrest record adds. The victim said the abuse continued until law enforcement arrived at the home. When officers saw the victim, he was 'trembling and wide eyed' with 'disheveled' hair. The boy was transported to a local hospital for treatment, arrest records state."
Mauritania: Authorities arrested 15 Christian leaders and their families (a large number considering that there are only about 1,000 Christians in the entire nation). According to a Dec. 13 report:
"Mauritania's current penal code, specifically Article 306, imposes the death penalty for apostasy, with the provision for a lesser penalty if the accused repents. The arrests were reportedly triggered by posting a video showcasing a baptism ceremony in Mauritania. The video, believed to be leaked by an insider seeking monetary gain, quickly went viral. The aftermath of the video's dissemination led to disturbing incitements, with some calling for violence against Christians. Reports include statements like, 'We have to kill those who preach Christianity, and these Christians have no place in Mauritania.' Tragically, this hostility has extended beyond the arrested individuals, affecting their families who are now facing harassment from their neighbors."
According to another report:
"The charges against the Christians were unclear; there is no law against evangelism in Mauritania, but officials nevertheless forbid non-Muslims from 'proselytizing' and ban any public expression of faith except Islam... Apostasy, or leaving Islam, is punishable by death in the northwest African country, where the population is 98 percent Sunni Muslim, 1 percent Shia Muslim and the constitution designates Islam as the sole religion of the citizenry and state."
The Christians, according to a later report, were released without charge. "They have been asked to go home and believe what they want, but in private and discreetly," a Christian leader said. "It seems that our brothers have more to fear from the Islamists than from their government. Thank God for this happy ending."
Uganda: After Muslims beat them for quoting the Koran, two Christian evangelists, Joseph and Isaac, spent Christmas Day in jail for "blasphemy." The report does not indicate which verses were deemed so objectionable, or why. The two men had been preaching on a street corner when they were surprised to see "a multitude of Muslims," said Pastor Robert, who was there but managed to escape.
"We thought that maybe they had come to listen to the word of God, but to our surprise, they just grabbed my colleagues and started beating them, and shortly police came and arrested them."
The two Christians were subsequently charged under Section 122 of Uganda's penal code for allegedly "wounding the religious feelings" of Muslims, and sent to jail to await trial. Muslims were particularly outraged that the evangelists quoted from the Koran during their missionizing efforts. As one Muslim leader told authorities:
"We as Muslims have worked hand in hand to get these kafir [infidels] after warning them to stop using our Koran and other Islamic literature, but they refused. They were quoting the Koran while speaking to our Muslims on the streets of Soroti—this is unacceptable in our faith."
During their Dec. 20 hearing, both Christians appeared in very bad shape; one was limping, though it was unclear if his injury was sustained from the Muslim mob or during his time in custody. "We are concerned about the deteriorating physical appearance of our two evangelists, and we are calling for the court to handle the case with justice," said another pastor on condition of anonymity:
"When the two evangelists appeared in court yesterday [Dec. 20], they had lost a lot of weight and were in a very sad mood; possibly they may have been subjected to some kind of torture."
Although Uganda is a Christian-majority nation, with Muslims making up less than 12% of the population, the anonymous pastor continued by saying that the nation's "religious sensitivity" law is being used disproportionately in favor of Muslims:
"We have been seeing Muslims in their open-air crusades using our Bibles. Even the Muslims do use the Bible, but the church has never accused them in any court of law in Uganda."
France: On Dec. 12, two Muslim girls, aged 11, followed, harassed, and assaulted one of their classmates, a French boy, also 11, as he walked home after school. One of the girls verbally assaulted him before pulling out and threatening the boy with a pair of scissors. After she struck him on the head and he fell, the other girl held her friend back, even as the assaulter continued to howl abuses:
"You dirty Christian! You're all the same, you dog! Is it good to be a dog? Tomorrow I'll nab you at school."
On learning of this attack, the boy's father accompanied his son to the local police station and filed a complaint for "violence and public insult based on race, religion or origin." The girl—who has a history of attacking other students—later confessed to school authorities.
* Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West, Sword and Scimitar, Crucified Again, and The Al Qaeda Reader, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
About this Series
While not all, or even most, Muslims are involved, persecution of Christians by extremists is growing. The report posits that such persecution is not random but rather systematic, and takes place irrespective of language, ethnicity, or location. It includes incidents that take place during, or are reported on, any given month.
© 2024 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

The Middle East is growing more and more unstable
Yasar Yakis/Arab News/January 21, 2024
Israel is today taking revenge on an entire people — the Palestinians. Most of the victims are innocent children and women. Of all countries, it was South Africa that took the initiative to bring Israel to the International Court of Justice, accusing it of having committed genocide. The Gaza crisis has also opened the floodgates to a new series of crises in the Middle East.
While the Middle East was already in turmoil, the US and the UK attacked the Houthis and navigation has been severely disturbed in the Red Sea. The Iranian-supported Houthis took the opportunity offered by the Gaza war and the Red Sea became an area of confrontation between the US and Iran. As if this were not enough, Daesh attacked a commemoration ceremony for Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force who was killed in an American drone attack in 2020. Iran responded to these attacks by hitting the house of a Kurdish businessman in Irbil, claiming that it was an Israeli espionage center. It also attacked a medical clinic in Idlib in northern Syria.
All these things are intriguing because Daesh, an organization that the transatlantic community is eager to eliminate, has attacked the enemies of these countries. The risk of escalation is going up and nobody knows who is whose enemy.
Turkiye is squeezed in between these problems. To begin with, it is fighting with terrorists, not with terror. Fighting terror requires a more sophisticated mechanism. It moved beyond its borders the terrain on which terror was going to be fought, but doing so limited Turkiye’s freedom of action, because it is now fighting terror in a hostile environment, in Syria and Iraq. Recent attacks on the Turkish-Iraqi border caused the death of more than a dozen Turkish soldiers. A sophisticated country must have helped the Kurds carry out such a plan. This conclusion should lead Turkiye to reconsider its tactics.
Turkiye and the US, two NATO allies, are at odds with each other. This issue raises the dilemma of how these two allies would fight in the same ranks if NATO is faced with a military confrontation. Even if they do not agree on all subjects, Ankara and Washington should be able to develop a working framework as two NATO allies and meet somewhere in the middle. This has not happened so far.
Turkiye has its problems, but it has several advantages in bringing together many stakeholders. Such cooperation may also involve other countries with influence in the region, such as Russia, Iraq, Syria and Iran. These formulas do not need to be carbon copies of one another.
The risk of escalation is going up and nobody knows who is whose enemy.
The Kurdish problem is another headache for the region. Though Russia and the US are in opposite camps, they both support the Kurdish cause. In its talks with the Syrian authorities, Moscow has frequently raised the question of the incorporation of Kurdish fighters into Syria’s national army as a separate brigade, while the US is trying to create a Kurdish-controlled zone on Syrian territory to the east of the Euphrates river.
In Iraq and Syria, Ankara seems to have opted for ending the terror originating from these two countries by drying the marsh. It has tried to do it for decades but without tangible effect. It has turned out to be difficult, if not impossible, to do it without US cooperation.
Turkiye has been able to push the focus of terror out of Turkish territory to Syria and Iraq. However, this is not sufficient. Turkiye has to cooperate more closely with these countries to discourage recruitment.
The most important concern of the US in the Middle East is Israel’s security. It regards Israel as the main pillar of its Middle Eastern policy. There is no sign indicating that the US may give up this support, and neither are its fellow Western countries.
If Turkiye were not a heavily biased Sunni country, it could have played a mediating role between the Sunni and Shiite worlds, but the present government in Ankara is far from assuming such a role.
Another important chapter regarding peace in the Middle East is the new conflagration in the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait. When the situation became precarious in the region, Iran used this opportunity to promote the Houthis’ cause in Yemen. If not contained properly, it may also spread to other places in the region and block traffic at the Suez Canal.
The Middle East seems to be pregnant with many crises.
• Yasar Yakis is a former foreign minister of Turkiye and founding member of the ruling AK Party. X: @yakis_yasar

Britain responds to Gaza’s suffering by criminalizing support for Palestinians
Baria Alamuddin/Arab News/January 22, 2024
The land of Magna Carta is organizing a bonfire of human rights and fundamental freedoms, with measures to criminalize support for Palestine and send asylum seekers off to Rwanda. Among a rush of bizarre measures before they are banished from power for a generation, Britain’s Conservatives are pursuing legislation that would ban local councils, universities and other public bodies from boycotting Israel.
The timing, as Palestinian civilians are being massacred in their thousands, could not be more diabolical. The proposed law includes the occupied Palestinian territories in its definition of Israel — thus making it illegal to take a stand against Israeli settlements that are themselves illegal under international law. It is doubly perverse that this contradicts Britain’s long-held political stance on the occupation’s illegality.
In a scathing attack on the bill, Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP who chairs Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said it “breaks with our foreign policy; undermines freedom of speech; goes against international law; and promotes an odd exceptionalism in UK primary legislation.”
The government is rushing such policies through Parliament to create political hand grenades in its incessant far-right culture war, seeking to brand the opposition Labour Party antisemitic. While a high proportion of Labour’s grassroots are instinctively pro-Palestinian, and under previous leaders the charge of antisemitism carried some weight, some of its newer leaders now seem to believe they can demonstrate their readiness to govern only by trotting out pro-Israel platitudes. Labour has opposed the measures in a starkly lackluster manner — citing freedom of speech concerns, while emphasizing that the party “completely opposes a policy of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.”
The world has changed beyond recognition since these anti-boycott measures were first conceived: over 25,000 Palestinians — 70 percent women and children — have lost their lives in Israel’s genocidal operations in Gaza, with thousands more buried under the rubble. Horrified British citizens, along with the rest of the world, have ingested a daily diet of atrocities and carnage through both conventional and social media. It is not just those from Muslim and ethnic minority backgrounds, but also young people and university students who are outraged at how the country’s political class ties itself in knots to avoid criticizing Israel. Hundreds of thousands of British people with experience of working in the Gulf states and the rest of the Arab world generally have a more nuanced understanding of the Palestinian cause.
Huge numbers have participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in major UK cities, which right-wing media and prominent politicians denounce as “hate-marches” peopled by “anti-British extremists.”
Britain and other states are pursuing measures that would criminalize those taking a principled stand on crimes against humanity and the persecution of the Palestinian people.
Ahead of elections due this year, the Conservative Party is furiously tearing itself apart in an ever more rightwards leaning death roll. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has a net popularity rating of minus 49, and Labour are a commanding 28 points ahead in the polls. But the Conservative solution to its chronic unpopularity has been to become embroiled in civil war over plans to deport refugees to Rwanda.
This proposal was initially blocked by the Supreme Court, which unsurprisingly ruled that Rwanda was not safe for asylum seekers. Sunak’s solution is to ask Parliament to pass a law declaring Rwanda safe. Hard-liners wanted to go even further through potentially illegal measures to block the jurisdiction of institutions such the European Court of Human Rights, enabling the government to violate human rights law with impunity. No wonder they are so hasty to make common cause with Benjamin Netanyahu’s pariah regime!
No less a figure than Baroness Kennedy, the leading barrister and member of the House of Lords, denounced the Rwanda measures as a “hated and hateful” piece of legislation, which at best could remove only a handful of asylum seekers at enormous expense. Such monomaniac obsession with this issue, while ignoring the dire state of Britain’s public services and stagnant economy, is obviously not a vote winner for a kamikaze ruling party that long ago lost the will to govern responsibly.
Attitudes toward the BDS movement vary across the Western world. A number of major European cities have revoked twinning agreements with Israel, including Barcelona, which severed its relationship with Tel Aviv. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Germany and the US have canceled numerous events by pro-Palestinian figures on the basis of spurious allegations of antisemitism.
The municipality of Oslo, a city of huge symbolic importance to the peace process, passed a measure prohibiting “Made in Israel” labels on goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements. Ireland is pursuing legislation to ban trade with settlements. This follows a 2019 ruling by the European Court of Justice that all goods produced in “Israel-occupied areas” had to be labeled as such so as not to mislead consumers.
The European Court of Human Rights furthermore ruled in 2020 that anti-boycott legislation violated freedom of expression.
The situation is radically different in the US, where 35 states have enacted laws to outlaw boycotting Israel. Although courts have pushed back against such restrictions on freedom of speech, several companies have been persecuted after desisting from investment in illegal settlements. Students at prestigious US universities who supported BDS have been added to recruitment blacklists.
It is perverse and outrageous that at a time when Israel is facing genocide charges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Britain and other states are pursuing measures that would criminalize those taking a principled stand on crimes against humanity and the persecution of the Palestinian people. I love Britain as the free, democratic country that adopted me — so it hurts on every level to witness such illiberal measures being forced through, as if the free world wanted to undermine everything it stands for.
Those who seek to penalize us for acting according to our conscience shouldn’t just be kicked out of office, but should themselves face a reckoning for advocating measures that trample democracy, freedom and justice underfoot for their own political advancement.
• Baria Alamuddin is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in the Middle East and the UK. She is editor of the Media Services Syndicate and has interviewed numerous heads of state.

Temporary Survival
Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper/January 21/2024
The region was spared a real catastrophe, but only temporarily, when both Pakistan and Iran were content with mutual strikes on the borders of the two countries, after the unprecedented attack carried out by Tehran on the Pakistani border.
The Iranian assault on Pakistani territory almost led to a real catastrophe, given that Pakistan is a nuclear state, with a population of 250 million, and a strong army. Any military confrontation between Iran and Pakistan would spark a major sectarian war.
The occurrence of a conflict of this kind, God forbid, would also lead to the return of all terrorist organizations, and the emergence of a world of militias throughout the region, in an unprecedented way. It would also disrupt every reform movement in this part of the planet.
Well, how do we read this Iranian aggression, which led to a direct and rapid Pakistani response, the first of its kind on Iranian soil by a country in the region, since the eight-year Iran-Iraq war in 1980?
Tehran’s targeting of Pakistani territory tells us that Iran has no red lines in the region. It also shows that the country, whenever it feels threatened or under siege, does not hesitate to jump into the unknown as its regime lives on the brink of abyss.
This is not a rumor, as Reuters quoted three Iranian officials as saying that the Iranian strike on Pakistan was motivated by Tehran’s efforts to strengthen its internal security rather than its ambitions for the Middle East.
This came after the recent bombings in Kerman, southeastern Iran, in which nearly a hundred people were killed, exposing the fragility of the security situation in Iran, especially following the successive security incursions into Iran by the Israelis.
Adding to all of this are the blows that Tehran’s militias have recently received in Iraq, Yemen and Syria from the Americans. Likewise, the strikes that Iran and Hezbollah are receiving in Syria from the Israelis, such as the killing of the commander of the Quds Force, and the director of the Corps’ intelligence, who was eliminated yesterday in Syria.
This situation prompted the Iranians to carry out attacks that would save face, whether in Iraq or Syria. But what is unusual is the targeting Pakistani territory, which was met with a quick Pakistani response, with a clear message that Pakistan is a red line, and outside the scope of the Iranian adventure.
Tehran did what it did, and what it has always done. It has not yet become a nuclear state, which raises this urgent question: What will a nuclear Iran be like? What are the limits of Tehran’s adventure in the region, or on all Iranian borders?
All the events in the history of Iran, the Khomeini Revolution, and even now, say that it is difficult to predict the behavior of the regime that does not hesitate to intimidate, even if it costs dire consequences. It is true that Iran is always standing on the edge of the abyss, but the matter is not always guaranteed.
Therefore, the easing of the Iranian-Pakistani tension represents temporary salvation. Because nothing is sure with this Iranian approach that always seeks to escape forward. This crisis in itself is an alarm bell that reminds of the danger of the Iranian project not only to the region, but even to the Iranian interior.